JEE Main · Chemistry · Coordination Compounds
Cation Analysis: JEE Main previous year questions
21 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 6 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 10 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 21
- in 20 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 6/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.2
- model; history: 0.2 a shift on average, typically 0.0–0.3
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 6 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 20 of 108 shifts: 21 questions, #137 of 196 topics.
- 02
57% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 3 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Confirmatory Tests, asked 4 times in 4 shifts (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), most often as “match list on salt analysis tests”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 12 of the 48 ideas in this topic; 30 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (57%); 10% need a numerical answer, 43% are easy and 10% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is recall (71%), then multi-step (19%).
Questions a shift, year by year
Out of the 25 Chemistry questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.
Raw count: 2017: 0 in 1 shift · 2020: 0 in 12 shifts · 2021: 3 in 24 shifts · 2022: 4 in 24 shifts · 2023: 4 in 12 shifts · 2024: 6 in 18 shifts · 2025: 2 in 8 shifts · 2026: 2 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.1
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.3
- 0.1
- Usual gap
- 1.0 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 20/108
- 19% of analysed shifts
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 21 questions on Cation Analysis since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy9 · 43%
- Medium10 · 48%
- Hard2 · 10%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 12 Q57%
- Match the list · 5 Q24%
- Numerical value · 2 Q10%
- Other · 1 Q5%
- Two statements · 1 Q5%
Skill tested
SHARE- Recall · 15 Q71%
- Multi-step · 4 Q19%
- Conceptual · 2 Q10%
Repeats
New idea, or one asked before?
Each column is a year. Blue questions tested an idea no earlier year had asked; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier year. 2017 is the first year, so everything in it counts as new. Heights are question counts, and Lumi analysed 1 to 24 shifts a year, so compare the split inside a column rather than heights across years.
- Idea asked for the first time
- Idea asked in an earlier year
Coverage of the topic
JEE Main has asked 12 of the 48 ideas in this topic. 30 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly12 · 25%
- Touched inside another question6 · 13%
- Never asked30 · 63%
Ideas come from Lumi’s JEE syllabus map. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: across all of JEE Main, 22% of questions since 2024 tested an idea no earlier year had asked.
Drill down
Chapter, idea, question
Every idea JEE Main tested in this topic, with its eight years. Open one to read the questions.
6 ideas inside
Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.
Ideas
Every idea inside this topic
12 different ideas were tested; 6 came more than once.
match list on salt analysis tests
Match the list · 4 shiftsidentify cation and anion from test observations
Single correct · 3 shiftscation group identification then oxidation state
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalreagent identification
Single correct · 2 shiftsnh4cl common ion lowers oh- before group iii precipitation
Single correct · 2 shiftscount atoms in ni-dmg complex
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalchoose correct tests with observations
Other · 1 shiftmatch group reagents with cations
Match the list · 1 shiftidentify compounds giving a named test
Single correct · 1 shiftidentify precipitate detecting a cation
Single correct · 1 shiftdissolution of agcl in ammonia
Single correct · 1 shiftmatch metal ion with analysis group
Match the list · 1 shift
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmatory Testsmatch list on salt analysis tests | 4 | 4 | Match the listRecall | – | |
| Cation Flame Colorsidentify cation and anion from test observations | 3 | 3 | Single correctRecall | – | |
| Group IV Sulfidescation group identification then oxidation state | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Group 0: Nessler's Reagent Complex Formulareagent identification | 2 | 2 | Single correctRecall | – | |
| Group III Hydroxidesnh4cl common ion lowers oh- before group iii precipitation | 2 | 2 | Single correctConceptual | – | |
| Nickel DMG Complexcount atoms in ni-dmg complex | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Group II: Copper Ferrocyanide Testchoose correct tests with observations | 1 | 1 | OtherRecall | – | |
| Group Reagent Identificationmatch group reagents with cations | 1 | 1 | Match the listRecall | – | |
| Group I: Lead Chromate Testidentify compounds giving a named test | 1 | 1 | Single correctRecall | – | |
| Group V Carbonate Precipitationidentify precipitate detecting a cation | 1 | 1 | Single correctRecall | – | |
| AgCl Dissolution in Ammoniadissolution of agcl in ammonia | 1 | 1 | Single correctConceptual | – | |
| Group IIA and IIB Sulfide Separationmatch metal ion with analysis group | 1 | 1 | Match the listRecall | – |
Times and shifts count every analysed shift. Across JEE Main, 78% of questions since 2024 went back to an idea an earlier year had asked; the rest were new. All repeated ideas
Every question
Cation Analysis questions, year by year
The opening words of each question as it appeared in the official paper, with the idea it tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20262 questions in 2 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 1Q70A salt with few drops of conc. HCl gives apple green colour in flame test. The group precipitate of the salt is dissolved in acetic acid…
Idea: Cation Flame Colors
MediumSingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q69Among , , and , identify the one that gets precipitated out while…
Idea: Group IV Sulfides
MediumSingle correct
JEE Main 20252 questions in 2 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 1Q62Choose the correct tests with respective observations. (A) (acidified with acetic acid) +…
Idea: Group II: Copper Ferrocyanide Test
New ideaMediumOther - 7 Apr, Shift 1Q63When a salt is treated with sodium hydroxide solution it gives gas X. On passing gas X through reagent Y a brown coloured precipitate is…
Idea: Group 0: Nessler's Reagent Complex Formula
EasySingle correct
JEE Main 20246 questions in 6 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 1Q72In the precipitation of the iron group (III) in qualitative analysis, ammonium chloride is added before adding ammonium hydroxide to :
Idea: Group III Hydroxides
MediumSingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q72Match List I with List II LIST I (Precipitating reagent and conditions) A. B. C.…
Idea: Group Reagent Identification
New ideaMediumMatch the list - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q87Consider the following reactions …
Idea: Nickel DMG Complex
HardNumerical value - 8 Apr, Shift 1Q72Match List I with List II LIST I (Name of the test): A. Borax bead test; B. Charcoal cavity test; C. Cobalt nitrate test; D. Flame test…
Idea: Cation Flame Colors
MediumMatch the list - 9 Apr, Shift 2Q87Consider the following test for a group-IV cation. (Black precipitate) + byproduct +…
Idea: Group IV Sulfides
New ideaHardNumerical value - 1 Feb, Shift 2Q80Given below are two statements : Statement (I) : Dimethyl glyoxime forms a six-membered covalent chelate when treated with…
Idea: Confirmatory Tests
Asked the year beforeMediumTwo statements
JEE Main 20234 questions in 3 shifts
- 6 Apr, Shift 2Q73Formation of which complex, among the following, is not a confirmatory test of ions
Idea: Group I: Lead Chromate Test
New ideaEasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q74Element not present in Nessler's reagent is
Idea: Group 0: Nessler's Reagent Complex Formula
New ideaEasySingle correct - 11 Apr, Shift 2Q73Match List I with List II LIST I (Complex) | LIST II (Colour) A. | I. brown B. | II.…
Idea: Confirmatory Tests
Asked the year beforeMediumMatch the list - 13 Apr, Shift 2Q73In the wet tests for detection of various cations by precipitation, cations are detected by obtaining precipitate of
Idea: Group V Carbonate Precipitation
New ideaEasySingle correct
JEE Main 20224 questions in 4 shifts
- 27 Jul, Shift 2Q80cation gives a prussian blue precipitate on addition of potassium ferrocyanide solution due to the formation of :
Idea: Confirmatory Tests
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 24 Jun, Shift 1Q80During the qualitative analysis of salt with cation , addition of a reagent (X) to alkaline solution of the salt gives a bright…
Idea: Nickel DMG Complex
New ideaEasySingle correct - 24 Jun, Shift 2Q80In the flame test of a mixture of salts, a green flame with blue centre was observed. Which one of the following cations may be present?
Idea: Cation Flame Colors
New ideaEasySingle correct - 25 Jun, Shift 1Q67White precipitate of AgCl dissolves in aqueous ammonia solution due to formation of :
Idea: AgCl Dissolution in Ammonia
New ideaEasySingle correct
JEE Main 20213 questions in 3 shifts
- 3 Aug, Shift 2Q48Match List I with II List I | List II (Ion detected) A. Borax Bead test | I. B. Charcoal cavity test | II.…
Idea: Confirmatory Tests
New ideaMediumMatch the list - 27 Aug, Shift 2Q50The addition of dilute NaOH to salt solution will give :
Idea: Group III Hydroxides
New ideaEasySingle correct - 31 Aug, Shift 2Q50Match List - I with List - II : List - I (Metal Ion) | List - II (Group in Qualitative analysis) (a) | (i) Group - III…
Idea: Group IIA and IIB Sulfide Separation
New ideaMediumMatch the list
Questions from the official JEE Main Paper 1 shifts published by NTA (CBSE for 2017). Questions NTA dropped are left out. Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.