Silver nitrate
| Silver nitrate | |
|---|---|
| |
| General | |
| Systematic name | Silver nitrate |
| Molecular formula | AgNO3 |
| Molar mass | Molar mass::169.88 g/mol |
| Appearance | white solid |
| CAS number | CAS number::7761-88-8 |
| Properties | |
| Density | [[Density::4.35 g/cm3]](solid) |
| Melting point | Melting point::212°C |
| Boiling point | Boiling point::444°C |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | MSDS Data |
| EU classification | Corrosive(C) Dangerous for the environment(N) |
| NFPA 704 |
0
2
2
OX
|
| R-phrases | R8,R34,R50/53 |
| S-phrases | (S1/2), S26, S45, S60, S61 |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Disclaimer and references | |
Silver nitrate's chemical formula is AgNO3. It does not dissolve in absolute alcohol or acetone well, but it dissolves well in ether or methanol or water. With silver nitrate, we can manufacture other silver compounds such as silver chloride, silver acetate, and silver sulfate. Silver nitrate can be used in controlling bacteria or making catalysts. When you drop silver nitrate on the skin, you get a white stain because of combination of silver metal and silver sulfide. It gets darker after around an hour but it will be erased after about 10 days.
Properties
The molecular formula for silver nitrate is AgNO3. Its molar mass is 169.88 g/mol. If you make silver nitrate, it will be formed in white solid. Its density is 4.35 g/cm3 in solid. Silver nitrate is melted at 212°C, 414°F, and boiled at 444°C which is same temperature as 831°F.
Occurrences
If you dissolve silver metal in a solution of nitric acid and evaporate the solution, Silver nitrate crystals can be made. This is the raw material for basic silver salt synthesis. [1]
3 Ag(s) + 4 HNO3(aq) -> 3 AgNO3 + 2 H2O(l) + NO(g)
Uses
Silver nitrate provides many advantages. First of all, it is the most economic salt of silver. Compared to the fluoroborate and perchlorate salts, silver nitrate is nonhygroscopic. Silver nitrate is versatile because it is soluble in alcohol and water. It is used in the manufacture of an eclectic range of products like mirrors, explosives, hair dye and pharmaceuticals. Photography labs use silver nitrate in the developing process since it is stable to light. In histology, silver nitrate is used for demonstrating proteins and nucleic acids. It is also used as a stain in scanning electron microscopy. Nowadays, silver nitrate has many medical, biological, and laboratory uses. For example, since 1881, silver nitrate is sometimes dropped into newborn babies' eyes at birth to prevent blindness or disease in the newborn infants of mothers with certain infectious diseases. Also, dentists sometimes use it to heal mouth ulcers. Silver nitrate is also used in the chemistry lab. It tests the presence of bromide, chloride, and iodide ions. [2]
Addition
Chemical History
In the Pharmacopoeias, when you dissolve silver in nitric acid or if you drop the melted metal into water, the solution is precipitated. Then, silver nitrate may form crystals. The Dublin College found this salt. However, unnecessarily, the crystallized salt differs from that which is fused. In preparing the fused nitrate of silver, you must keep watching that heat raised gradually until you get a clear liquid to get rid of the whole water. If you don't, the salt will decompose and get darker. [3]
Toxicity
Like all silver salts, silver nitrate is toxic. If silver salts deposits metallic silver under the skin, people's skin will turn an ashen-gray color. This is the circumstance in which silver was a cancer-causing agent- implanted into the skin of animals it cause cancerous lesions. Also, it should interfere with the body's normal immune processes. [4]
Adulterations
The London College detects all imparities except the most frequent one. They found that the precipitate that they got from the dissolved salt is not entirely soluble in ammonia. Also, they figured out that if there is any zinc, a white precipitate is formed and if there is any copper, a black precipitate is formed. However, this method does not detect the most frequent adulteration. So the Edinburgh College discovered the new method. They said if the salt were pure and had a small quantity, the whole silver in the form of chloride will precipitate.
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References
- Silver nitrate Multiple Authors. Wikipedia.
- Silver-The Dark Side of a New Health Craze Jonathan Campbell. Health Consultant.
- Silver Nitrate J.T. Baker. Environmental Health & Safety.
- Silver nitrate Anonymous Authors. AMES GOLDSMITH CORP.
- Drugstore Museum Multiple Authors. Soderlund Village Drug.
See Also
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