Difference between revisions of "Silver nitrate"

Revision as of 09:59, 12 July 2015

Silver nitrate is a chemical compound, salt of nitric acid and silver metal. It has the chemical formula AgNO₃.

Properties

Chemical

Silver nitrate can be reduced to elemental silver, in the presence of a reducing agent, such as ascorbic acid.

Silver nitrate decomposes when heated at 440 °C.

2 AgNO₃ → 2 Ag + O₂ + 2 NO₂(g)

Physical

Silver nitrate is an odorless white salt. Unlike silver perchlorate, it is not hygroscopic. It is soluble in water, acetone, ether.

Availability

Silver nitrate can be purchased from pharmacies, usually as a solution or as sticks, known as "caustic pencils". It can also be purchased in solid form, from chemical suppliers.

Preparation

Silver nitrate can be prepared by reacting nitric acid with silver metal. Heating the acid accelerates the reaction.

Projects

• Make silver acetate
• Silver carbonate synthesis
• Silver mirror
• Ethyl nitrate synthesis

Handling

Safety

Silver nitrate can stain the skin as well as most objects and is toxic if swallowed. Gloves should be worn when handling the compound.

Storage

Silver nitrate should be kept in closed bottles, in dark places, such as a cabinet, as it is sensitive to light. Avoid storing it close to volatile reducing agents.

Disposal

Silver nitrate should be reduced to elemental silver, which can be recycled.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• Nitric Acid and Silver Nitrate
• Silver Nitrate Synthesis
• Silver Nitrate crystallization from water
• Silver nitrate - green !!?? help