Can we use silver nitrate to distinguish between chloride and carbonate salts?
The test for Chloride ion is silver nitrite in an Acidified solution [with nitric acid]. This removes carbonate (as carbonic acid), cyanide[careful] and sulfide (as hydrogen sulfide). Sulfate must be absent, if present it can be removed with barium nitrate (as barium sulfate).  The silver chloride formed is solubilized by addition of ammonia; insoluble precipitate remaining may be bromide or iodide. The exact procedure to follow is given in reputed indepth Qualitative Analysis lab books.