Substance profile
Silver nitrate
Silver nitrate is colorless rhombic cyrstals and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Silver nitrate is
Silver nitrate is colorless rhombic cyrstals and is odorless. Its molecular formula is AgNO3 and its molecular weight is 169.873 g/mol. It boils at 440 °C, melts at 212 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
Other names for Silver nitrate
- lunar caustic
- AgNO3
- Nitric Acid Silver(I) Salt
- Nitric Acid, Silver(1+) Salt
- Silbernitrat
- Silver (I) Nitrate
- Silver (I) Nitrate (1:1)
- Silver Mononitrate
- Silver Nitrate (Agno3)
- Silver(1+) Nitrate
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H272 | May intensify fire; oxidiser. |
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life. |
| H410 | Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
Precautionary statements: P260, P273, P280, P301, P310, P331, P391, P501
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Silver nitrate properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 440 °C (824 °F) | decomposes, decomposes | HSDB |
| 440 °C (824 °F) | decomposes, at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | 212 °C (413.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 212.22 °C (414 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 5.35 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 4.35 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 4.35 g/cm³ | at 19 °C | CAMEO | |
| Solubility | 1 g sol in 30 ml alcohol; 1 g sol in 6.5 ml boiling alcohol; 1 g sol in 253 ml acetone; readily sol in ammonia water | HSDB | |
| SOL IN ETHER, GLYCEROL | HSDB | ||
| Autoignition temperature | Not flammable (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Silver nitrate
Storage conditions
... Protect from light and store in inert, collapsible containers or in other suitable single-dose containers at 15-30 °C; freezing of the ophthalmic soln should be avoided and the soln should not be used when cold.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Silver nitrate (or other soluble salt) reacts with acetylene in presence of ammonia to form silver acetylide, a sensitive and powerful detonator when dry. In the absence of ammonia, or when calcium acetylide is added to a silver nitrate soln, explosive double salts of silver acetylide and silver nitrate are produced. Mercurous acetylide precipitates silver acetylide from aqueous nitrate.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Silver nitrate in the storage compatibility matrix →
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