Silver nitrate
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| Silver nitrate | |
|---|---|
| Image:Silver-nitrate-2D.svg | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | AgNO3 |
| Molar mass | 169.87 g/mol |
| Appearance | white solid |
| Density | 4.35 g/cm3 (solid) |
| Melting point |
212 °C, 485 K, 414 °F |
| Boiling point |
444 °C, 717 K, 831 °F (decomp.) |
| Hazards | |
| EU classification | Corrosive (C) Dangerous for the environment (N) |
| NFPA 704 |
|
| 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) Infobox disclaimer and references | |
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch. Silver nitrate is a soluble chemical compound with chemical formula AgNO3. This nitrate of silver is a versatile precursor to many silver compounds, such as those used in photography, although this salt is far less sensitive to light than the halides. A spill of AgNO3 on the skin results in a white stain which turns dark after roughly an hour, resulting from a combination of silver metal and silver sulfide.
Synthesis and structure
Silver nitrate crystals can be produced by dissolving silver metal in a solution of nitric acid and evaporating the solution. The equation is as follows:
- 3 Ag(s) + 4HNO3(aq) → 3 AgNO3(aq) + 2 H2O(l) + NO(g)
In solid silver nitrate, the silver ions are three-coordinated in a trigonal planar arrangement.[1]
Applications
Precursor to other silver compounds
Silver nitrate is the least expensive salt of silver and offers several other advantages as well. It is non-hygroscopic, in contrast to the fluoroborate and perchlorate salts. It is relatively stable to light. Finally it dissolves in numerous solvents. The nitrate can be easily replaced by other ligands, rendering AgNO3 versatile. Treatment with solutions of halide ions gives a precipitate of AgX (X = Cl, Br, I). When making photographic film, silver nitrate is treated with halide salts of sodium or potassium to form insoluble silver halide in situ in photographic gelatin, which is then applied to strips of tri-acetate or polyester. Similarly, silver nitrate is used to prepare some silver-based explosives, such as the fulminate, azide, or acetylide, through a precipitation reaction. Treatment of silver nitrate with base gives silver oxide:[1]
- 2 AgNO3 + 2 NaOH → Ag2O + 2 NaNO3 + H2O
Organic synthesis
Silver nitrate is used as many ways in organic synthesis, e.g. for deprotection and oxidations. Ag+ binds alkenes reversibly, and silver nitrate has been used to separate mixtures of alkenes by selective absorption. The resulting adduct can be decomposed with ammonia to release the free alkene.[1]
Medicine
Silver salts have antiseptic properties. AgNO3 is sometimes dropped into newborn babies' eyes at birth to prevent contraction of gonorrhoea or chlamydia from the mother. Eye infections and blindness of newborns is reduced by this method. This protection was first used by Credé in 1881 and is still in use.[1][1][1] Fused silver nitrate, shaped into sticks, was traditionally called "lunar caustic". It is used as a cauterizing agent, for example to remove granulation tissue around a stoma. Dentists sometimes use silver nitrate infused swabs to heal oral ulcers. Silver nitrate is also used by some podiatrists to kill cells located in the nail bed.
The Canadian physician Ringrose researched the use of silver nitrate for sterilization procedures on women. A specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, Ringrose believed that the corrosive properties of silver nitrate could be used to block and corrode the fallopian tubes, in a process that he called "office tubal sterilization". The technique was ineffective; in fact at least two women underwent abortions. Ringrose was sued for malpractice, although these suits were unsuccessful.[1]
Biology
In histology, silver nitrate is used for silver staining, for demonstrating proteins and nucleic acids. For this reason it is also used to demonstrate proteins in PAGE gels. It is also used as a stain in scanning electron microscopy[citation needed].
Analytical chemistry
The presence of chloride, bromide, or iodide ions can be tested by adding silver nitrate solution. Samples are typically acidifed with dilute nitric acid to remove interfering ions, e.g. carbonate ions and sulfide ions. This step avoids confusion of silver sulfide or silver carbonate precipitates with that of silver halides. Addition of AgNO3 to the resulting solutions produces a precipitate in the presence of halides. The color of precipitate varies with the halide: white (silver chloride), pale yellow (silver bromide), yellow (silver iodide). AgBr and especially AgI photo-decompose to the metal, as evidence by a grayish color on exposed samples.
Coordination chemistry
Silver nitrate is also often used in inorganic and organic chemistry to abstract halides in the form of the insoluble silver halide salt.
Toxicity
As with all silver salts, silver nitrate is toxic and corrosive.
References
External links
cs:Dusičnan stříbrný da:Sølvnitrat de:Silbernitratfr:Nitrate d'argent it:Nitrato d'argento hu:Ezüst-nitrát nl:Zilvernitraat ja:硝酸銀 no:Sølvnitrat nn:Sølvnitratsk:Dusičnan strieborný sl:Srebrov nitrat fi:Hopeanitraatti sv:Silvernitrat {{pmr}
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
