Microcosmic Salt Bead Test
Microcosmic salt, Na(NH4)HPO4.4H2O is as well used to identify specific cations just as borax. While microcosmic salt is burned in a loop of platinum wire, a colourless transparent bead of sodium metaphosphate is formed.
Na(NH4) HPO4. 4H2O → Na (NH4)HPO4 + 4H2O
Na (NH4) HPO4 → NaPO3 + NH3 + H2O
Now NaPO3 reacts with metallic oxides to give coloured orthophosphates.
NaPO3 + CuO → NaCuPO4 (Blue)
NaPO3 + CoO → NaCuPO4 (Blue)
NaPO3 + Cr2O3 → NaPO3. Cr2O3 (Green)