[Frozen]

I have a solution that contains Pb, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn cations.
I don't need to seperate them, but I just have to detect each of them. It also doesn't have to be in the same test tube.
What are the best confirmations or ways to detect these cations?

[wildfyr]

If you look at the top of this page there are forum rules stating you must show your own bona fide attempts to solve the problem before we will help you.

I'll start with a couple important questions: What are the parameters of this experiment? Can you use analytical equipment? Do you have thousands of dollars to spent?

[Frozen]

All this happening in a lab with no money to spend. Most chemicals are available tho. There are 6 samples potentially containing these cations, but sample 1 is confirmed to contain all 6. We did try to follow a selfmade flowchart, but we saw cations reacting together. bcs we have all these samples, we would like to have a quick and easy test.
We come up with the following
Pb2+ add hlc for white ppr
Cu2+ oxalic acid but not sure
Zn2+ oxalic acid but not sure
Co2+ add napo4 for
Ni2+ add nac03 for green ppr
Fe3+add nh4scn for red ppr
All done in 6 test tubes containing sample 1, each test tube for a different 'cation test'

[Mitch]

That might work if the ions are really concentrated, it won't work if they are in trace amounts. Since this is not a homework assignment, I'd recommend you get the sample analyzed on an ICP.

[wildfyr]

I agree. I wrote ICP-OES (or AES as its also called) in my first response, then decided to probe your resources first. ICP-OES is good solidly into the ppb range for detecting transition metals like these. It would cost perhaps a few hundred dollars to farm out, or maybe youre in an academic lab and someone on campus will help you.

[Arkcon]

If you're not in sub-ppm range, then the wet chemistry tricks should suit you, if your samples are limited.  You can look for Feigl's Spot Tests, to see if there's other wet chemistry you can do to deal with possible cross reaction cations you might have.

[pifi]

I have a solution that contains Pb, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn cations.
I don't need to seperate them, but I just have to detect each of them. It also doesn't have to be in the same test tube.
What are the best confirmations or ways to detect these cations?

I don't know if my method is best. I use Na2HCO3 to get carbonates of that -> color diference for Fe, Ni, Cu, ...
Centrifuge can help for sedimentation / filtration. Some carbonates you can easily decompose by temperature -> you get different color Oxide.

[Corribus]

I have a solution that contains Pb, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn cations.
I don't need to seperate them, but I just have to detect each of them.

I'm confused. Unless this is a lab exercise for school, if you already know the cations are in there, why do you need to detect them? Or does detect = quantify? Because for an analytical chemist those are two different things.