Quick answer: A practical chemistry NEET PYQ analysis shows that this is a new and growing area. Practical chemistry was added to the NEET syllabus in 2024, and NTA has asked one question on it in each of 2024, 2025 and 2026: the group classification of cations twice and the test for the acetate ion once. The syllabus also covers Lassaigne’s test for N, S and halogens, functional group tests, the preparation of compounds such as Mohr’s salt and acetanilide, and KMnO₄ titrations. Expect at least one question every year.
This guide covers what NTA has asked, what it is likely to ask next and the tables you must know, with PYQ-pattern questions. Many of these tests come straight from other chapters, so our p-Block PYQ analysis and our Coordination Compounds PYQ analysis are useful companions.
Want to see the real questions first? Solve the practical chemistry PYQs for free, then use this guide to cover the rest of the syllabus.
Table of Contents
Why Practical Chemistry Matters Now
| Year | What NTA asked |
|---|---|
| NEET 2024 | Group-wise classification of cations |
| NEET 2025 | Matching Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Al³⁺ to their analytical groups |
| NEET 2026 | Detection of the acetate ion |
The 2025 question is in the practical chemistry set linked above; the 2024 question is in the salt analysis PYQ set, and the 2026 question is in the qualitative inorganic analysis set.
With so few NEET chemistry PYQs in this area, you cannot rely on past questions alone. Most tests, though, are reactions you already study elsewhere: the FeCl₃ and bromine water tests in our Alcohols and Phenols PYQ analysis, and the KMnO₄ chemistry in our Redox Reactions PYQ analysis. The safest plan is to learn the full syllabus list below, because the next question could come from any of it. To see where it sits among other chapters, check the NEET 2027 chapter weightage.
Practical Chemistry NEET PYQ Analysis: The Syllabus Areas
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Salt analysis | Cations: Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺, NH₄⁺; anions: CO₃²⁻, S²⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻ |
| Detection of elements | Nitrogen, sulphur and halogens in organic compounds (Lassaigne’s test) |
| Functional group tests | Alcoholic and phenolic –OH, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, amino groups |
| Preparations | Inorganic: Mohr’s salt, potash alum; organic: acetanilide, p-nitroacetanilide, aniline yellow, iodoform |
| Titrations | Acid–base titrations and indicators; oxalic acid vs KMnO₄; Mohr’s salt vs KMnO₄ |
Salt Analysis: Cation Groups
Salt analysis questions have come up two years in a row, so learn this table first:
| Group | Cations | Group reagent | Precipitate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | NH₄⁺ | NaOH, heated (NH₃ gas released) | — |
| I | Pb²⁺ | Dilute HCl | PbCl₂ (white) |
| II | Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ | H₂S gas in dilute HCl | Sulphides (CuS black) |
| III | Al³⁺, Fe³⁺ | NH₄OH in the presence of NH₄Cl | Al(OH)₃ white gelatinous; Fe(OH)₃ reddish brown |
| IV | Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺ | H₂S gas in ammoniacal solution | ZnS white; NiS and CoS black |
| V | Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ | (NH₄)₂CO₃ in the presence of NH₄OH | White carbonates |
| VI | Mg²⁺ | Na₂HPO₄ | White Mg(NH₄)PO₄ |
Pb²⁺ appears in both Group I and Group II, because PbCl₂ is slightly soluble and some lead stays in solution.
Confirmatory Tests for Cations
| Cation | Confirmatory test |
|---|---|
| NH₄⁺ | Nessler’s reagent gives a brown precipitate |
| Pb²⁺ | KI gives a yellow precipitate of PbI₂; K₂CrO₄ gives yellow PbCrO₄ |
| Cu²⁺ | Excess NH₄OH gives a deep blue solution; K₄[Fe(CN)₆] gives a chocolate-brown precipitate |
| Fe³⁺ | K₄[Fe(CN)₆] gives Prussian blue; KSCN gives a blood-red colour |
| Al³⁺ | Blue lake test with blue litmus |
| Zn²⁺ | K₄[Fe(CN)₆] gives a bluish-white precipitate |
| Ni²⁺ | Dimethylglyoxime gives a bright red precipitate |
| Ba²⁺ | Yellow precipitate with K₂CrO₄; apple-green flame |
| Ca²⁺ | White precipitate with ammonium oxalate; brick-red flame |
Salt Analysis: Anion Tests
| Anion | Test and observation |
|---|---|
| CO₃²⁻ | Dilute H₂SO₄ gives brisk effervescence of CO₂, which turns lime water milky |
| S²⁻ | Dilute H₂SO₄ gives H₂S (rotten-egg smell), which turns lead acetate paper black; sodium nitroprusside gives a violet colour |
| SO₄²⁻ | BaCl₂ gives a white precipitate insoluble in HCl |
| NO₂⁻ | Dilute H₂SO₄ gives brown fumes |
| NO₃⁻ | Brown ring test: FeSO₄ and concentrated H₂SO₄ form a brown ring of [Fe(H₂O)₅NO]²⁺ |
| Cl⁻ | AgNO₃ gives a white precipitate soluble in NH₄OH; chromyl chloride test gives orange-red vapours |
| Br⁻ | AgNO₃ gives a pale yellow precipitate, partly soluble in NH₄OH |
| I⁻ | AgNO₃ gives a yellow precipitate insoluble in NH₄OH |
| CH₃COO⁻ | Dilute H₂SO₄ gives a vinegar smell; neutral FeCl₃ gives a deep red colour |
Lassaigne’s Test for N, S and Halogens
The organic compound is fused with sodium metal. N, S and halogens turn into NaCN, Na₂S and NaX, which dissolve in water to give the sodium fusion extract. Lassaigne’s test then works as follows:
| Element | Test | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen | Boil with FeSO₄, then acidify | Prussian blue, Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃ |
| Sulphur | Sodium nitroprusside | Violet colour |
| Sulphur | Lead acetate with acetic acid | Black precipitate of PbS |
| N and S together | FeCl₃ | Blood-red colour (from NaSCN) |
| Halogens | Boil with HNO₃ first, then add AgNO₃ | White (Cl), pale yellow (Br) or yellow (I) precipitate |
The extract is boiled with nitric acid before testing for halogens so that any NaCN or Na₂S is destroyed and does not interfere.
Functional Group Tests
| Group | Test | Positive result |
|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic –OH | Ceric ammonium nitrate | Red colour |
| Phenolic –OH | Neutral FeCl₃ | Violet colour |
| Phenol | Bromine water | White precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromophenol |
| Aldehydes and ketones | 2,4-DNP reagent | Yellow or orange precipitate |
| Aldehydes only | Tollens’ reagent | Silver mirror |
| Aliphatic aldehydes | Fehling’s solution | Red precipitate of Cu₂O |
| Carboxylic acids | NaHCO₃ | Brisk effervescence of CO₂ |
| Primary amines | Carbylamine test (CHCl₃ + alcoholic KOH) | Foul-smelling isocyanide |
| Aromatic primary amines | Azo dye test with β-naphthol | Orange-red dye |
Functional group tests overlap with the Organic chapters, so revise the chemistry behind each colour change there.
Preparations and Titrations
| Preparation | Key point |
|---|---|
| Mohr’s salt, FeSO₄·(NH₄)₂SO₄·6H₂O | Dilute H₂SO₄ is added to stop the hydrolysis of FeSO₄; gives light green crystals |
| Potash alum, K₂SO₄·Al₂(SO₄)₃·24H₂O | Crystallised from equimolar solutions |
| Acetanilide | Acetylation of aniline with acetic anhydride |
| p-Nitroacetanilide | Nitration of acetanilide with concentrated HNO₃ and H₂SO₄ in the cold; the para product is the main one |
| Aniline yellow (p-aminoazobenzene) | Diazotisation of aniline, then coupling with aniline |
| Iodoform | Ethanol or acetone with iodine and an alkali; yellow crystals |
Titration facts NTA can ask:
- Phenolphthalein (colourless to pink, pH 8.2–10) suits titrations with a strong base; methyl orange (pH 3.1–4.4) suits a strong acid with a weak base.
- KMnO₄ acts as its own indicator: the end point is the first permanent light pink colour.
- KMnO₄ titrations use dilute H₂SO₄, not HCl, because KMnO₄ would oxidise HCl to chlorine.
- The oxalic acid solution is warmed to about 60–70 °C before titration; the Mohr’s salt titration is done at room temperature, because heating would oxidise Fe²⁺ in air.
- 2MnO₄⁻ + 5C₂O₄²⁻ + 16H⁺ → 2Mn²⁺ + 10CO₂ + 8H₂O, and MnO₄⁻ + 5Fe²⁺ + 8H⁺ → Mn²⁺ + 5Fe³⁺ + 4H₂O.
Worked PYQ-Pattern Questions
Q1. Match the cations with their analytical groups: Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Al³⁺.
Answer: Co²⁺ – Group IV, Mg²⁺ – Group VI, Pb²⁺ – Group I, Al³⁺ – Group III.
Q2. The group reagent for Group III cations is: (a) Dilute HCl (b) H₂S in dilute HCl (c) NH₄OH in the presence of NH₄Cl (d) (NH₄)₂CO₃
Answer: (c). NH₄Cl suppresses the ionisation of NH₄OH, so only Group III hydroxides precipitate.
Q3. A salt gives a vinegar smell with dilute H₂SO₄ and a deep red colour with neutral FeCl₃. The anion is:
Answer: Acetate (CH₃COO⁻).
Q4. In Lassaigne’s test, nitrogen is confirmed by the formation of:
Answer: Prussian blue, Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃.
Q5. Why is dilute H₂SO₄ used, and not HCl, in KMnO₄ titrations?
Answer: KMnO₄ would oxidise HCl to chlorine, using up extra KMnO₄ and giving a wrong result.
Q6. Which test distinguishes an aldehyde from a ketone? (a) 2,4-DNP test (b) Tollens’ test (c) Iodoform test (d) Sodium bicarbonate test
Answer: (b) Tollens’ test. Aldehydes give a silver mirror; ketones do not. Both give a positive 2,4-DNP test.
Common Traps in This Chapter
- Putting Al³⁺ in Group II or Mg²⁺ in Group V
- Forgetting that Pb²⁺ appears in both Group I and Group II
- Testing for halogens without boiling the extract with HNO₃ first
- Using HCl to acidify KMnO₄ titrations
- Heating the Mohr’s salt solution before titrating it with KMnO₄
- Saying ketones give a silver mirror with Tollens’ reagent
Practise Every Practical Chemistry PYQ
This practical chemistry NEET PYQ analysis covers both the questions NTA has asked and the areas it has not reached yet. Practise the real questions free:
👉 Solve all Practical Chemistry NEET PYQs
Then revise the cation group table and the anion test table once a week until the exam.
Conclusion
Practical chemistry has only been in the NEET syllabus since 2024, but it has produced a question every year since. Use this practical chemistry NEET PYQ analysis to master the cation groups and confirmatory tests, anion tests, Lassaigne’s test, functional group tests, preparations and KMnO₄ titrations. Because the PYQ bank is still small, learn the full syllabus list, not just the past questions.
❓ FAQ
Q: Is practical chemistry in the NEET syllabus? A: Yes. It was added in 2024 and covers salt analysis, detection of elements, functional group tests, preparations of some compounds and titrations.
Q: How many questions come from practical chemistry in NEET? A: So far, about one question a year: in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Two were on cation groups and one on the acetate ion test.
Q: What is the most important topic in practical chemistry for NEET? A: Salt analysis, especially the group classification of cations and their confirmatory tests, followed by anion tests.
Q: What is the group reagent for Group IV cations? A: H₂S gas in an ammoniacal medium. It precipitates Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ as sulphides.
Q: Why is KMnO₄ called a self-indicator? A: Its intense purple colour disappears as it reacts, so the first permanent light pink colour shows the end point without any added indicator.
Q: Where can I practise practical chemistry NEET PYQs for free? A: You can solve the practical chemistry previous year questions for free using the practice links in this article.