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NEET CHEMISTRYMedium

Compound 'A' in acidic medium does not give a precipitate with H2SH_2S but in NH4OHNH_4OH medium gives a precipitate. Compound 'A' is:

A

FeCl3FeCl_3

B

AlCl3AlCl_3

C

ZnCl2ZnCl_2

D

SnCl2SnCl_2

Step-by-Step Solution

This question is based on the principles of Qualitative Analysis of cations and the Solubility Product (KspK_{sp}).

  1. Reagent Function: Hydrogen sulphide (H2SH_2S) is used to precipitate metal sulphides. The concentration of sulphide ions (S2S^{2-}) depends on the pH of the medium.
  2. Acidic Medium: In the presence of acid (like HClHCl), the dissociation of H2SH_2S is suppressed due to the Common Ion Effect. The sulphide ion concentration is low, sufficient only to precipitate Group II cations (like Cu2+,Pb2+,Sn2+Cu^{2+}, Pb^{2+}, Sn^{2+}) which have very low KspK_{sp} values. SnCl2SnCl_2 would precipitate as SnSSnS here, so it is incorrect.
  3. Basic Medium (NH4OHNH_4OH): In the presence of a base, the H+H^+ ions from H2SH_2S are removed, shifting the equilibrium forward and increasing the sulphide ion concentration. This high [S2][S^{2-}] exceeds the KspK_{sp} of Group IV cations (like Zn2+,Mn2+,Ni2+Zn^{2+}, Mn^{2+}, Ni^{2+}), causing them to precipitate.
  4. Analysis of Options: SnCl2SnCl_2: Precipitates in acidic medium (Group II). ZnCl2ZnCl_2: Does not precipitate in acidic medium (high KspK_{sp} of ZnSZnS) but precipitates as Zinc Sulphide (ZnSZnS, white) in alkaline/ammoniacal medium .
  • FeCl3FeCl_3 and AlCl3AlCl_3: Group III cations usually precipitate as hydroxides with NH4OHNH_4OH directly, but the specific context of H2SH_2S acidic vs. basic differentiation points to the Group II vs. Group IV sulphide distinction, where Zinc is the classic example.
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