Silver nitrate Totally Explained

Everything about Silver Nitrate totally explained

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, }} }} Silver nitrate is a soluble chemical compound with chemical formula Ag N O₃. 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 solution on the skin results in a white stain which turns dark after exposure to sunlight(UV radiation), after long periods of no sunlight the stain may revert back to white/light purple. The stain usually goes away as the skin peels, which takes about 1.5 weeks. It is also possible to use a nail file to rub the stained skin away.

Chemistry

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: ť 4Ag(s) + 6HNO₃(aq) → 4AgNO₃(aq) + 3H₂O(l) + NO(g) + NO_2(g)

In solid silver nitrate, the silver ions are three-coordinated in a trigonal planar arrangement.

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 silver fluoroborate and silver perchlorate. 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: ť 2 AgNO₃ + 2 NaOH → Ag₂O + 2 NaNO₃ + H₂O

Organic synthesis

Silver nitrate is used in many ways in organic synthesis, for example 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.

Medicine

Silver salts have antiseptic properties. AgNO₃ is often 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. 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 C. A. Douglas 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.

Biology

In histology, silver nitrate is used for silver staining, for demonstrating proteins and nucleic acids. For this reason it's also used to demonstrate proteins in PAGE gels. It is also used as a stain in scanning electron microscopy.

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, for example 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/cream (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

In aqueous solution, silver nitrate is also often used to abstract halides in the form of the insoluble silver halide salt:
ť Ag⁺ (aq) + X^- (aq) → AgX (s) (X = Cl, Br, I)

Other silver salts with non-coordinating anions, namely silver tetrafluoroborate and silver hexafluorophosphate are used for more demanding applications.

Toxicity

As with all silver salts, silver nitrate is toxic and corrosive. Little exposure to the chemical won't produce immediate or even any side effects other than the purple skin stains, but with more exposure, side effects will become more noticeable. It is also very poisonous and can cause burns. Long-term exposure can cause permanent blue-grey staining of eyes, mouth, throat and skin, (argyria) and may cause eye damage. Short contact can lead to deposition of black silver stains on the skin. Besides being very destructive of mucous membranes, it's a skin and eye irritant.

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