The brown ring in the detection of NO−3 ion is due to the formation of
FeSO4.NO
During the brown ring test FeSO4.NO is formed from brown colored ion Fe(H2O)5.NO]+2
NO−3+3Fe+2+4H⨁→NO+3Fe+3+2H2O
[Fe(H2O)6]+2+NO→[Fe(H2O)5.NO]+2Nitroso Ferrous Ion (brown)+H2O