Homepage | Imprint
Lumrix Logo
 
 
Lumrix Wiki Logo
[ICD 10 Search]



Back
[ICD 10 Search]

 

 

Silver nitrate

Silver nitrate
Image:Silver nitrate.gif
General
Molecular formula AgNO3
Molar mass 169.89 g/mol
Appearance white solid
CAS number [7761-88-8]
Properties
Densityand phase 4.4 g/cm3, solid
Solubilityin water 219 g/100 ml (20 °C °C)
Melting point 212 °C
Boiling point 444 °C decomp.
Structure
Coordination
geometry 		 ?
Crystal structure  ?
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
EU classification Corrosive (C)
Dangerous for
the environment (N)
NFPA 704
Image:Nfpa h1.png Image:Nfpa f0 ox.png Image:Nfpa r0.png
R-phrases R34, R50/53
S-phrases S1/2, S26, S45,
S60, S61
Flash point non-flammable
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties 		n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data 		Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Other anions  ?
Other cations Copper(II) nitrate
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Silver nitrate is a chemical compoundwith chemical formulaAgNO3. This nitrateof silveris a light-sensitive ingredient in photographic filmand is a poisonous, corrosive compound. Silver nitrate crystals can be produced by dissolving silverin nitric acidand evaporatingthe solution. The compound notably stains skin a greyish or black color that is made visible after exposure to sunlight.

Image:Agno3stain.jpg

When making photographic film, fine silver nitrate particles are bonded to strips of tri-acetateor polyester. Photonsfrom sunlight, X-raysor other sources, initiate a purported chemical chain reaction: when photons strike silver nitrate molecules, they free electronsfrom the silver ions. These free electrons roam through the crystal and settle in structural imperfections called sensitivity specks. These specks apparently attract positive silver ions, which are then neutralized to form groups of stable silver atoms, creating a latent image that is chemically developed to reveal a photographic image.

Silver nitrate has been used as an antiseptic, dropped into newborn babies' eyes at birth. This is to prevent contraction of gonorrhoeaor chlamydiafrom their mother. A very weak solution is used for this, (about 1%) and there are very few side effects.

Mythically, silver nitrate was used as a method of killing vampires, with the silver nitrate generally being injected into a bullet cartridge or used in a hypodermic needle.

Fused silver nitrate, shaped into sticks, was traditionally called lunar caustic and used as a cauterizingagent.

In histology, silver nitrate is used for silver staining, for demonstrating proteinsand nucleic acids. It is also used as a stain in scanning electron microscopy.

Silver nitrate is used to prepare some silver-based explosives, such as the fulminate, azide, or acetylide, through a precipitation reaction.

Hazards

Silver nitrate is harmful to the environment and is toxic to fish.

See also

  • Film developing

External links

  • International Chemical Safety Card 1116
  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
  • European Chemicals Bureau
  • Film Makingda:Sølvnitrat

de:Silbernitrat es:Nitrato de plata it:Nitrato d'argento ja:??? nb:Sølvnitrat nl:Zilvernitraat pl:Azotan srebra sl:Srebrov nitrat zh:???

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/Silver_nitrate"



This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver+nitrate Wikipedia article Silver nitrate.

 
  All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License