Silver nitrate is the most important silver compound and is used extensively for the manufacture of silver halide photosensitive material. Pure silver nitrate crystal is stable to light and is easily to be reduced to black metallic silver in the presence of organic matter. Wet silver nitrate and silver nitrate solution can be easily subject to decomposition upon light. Silver nitrate is a kind of oxidizing agent and can cause protein coagulation with corrosive effect on the human body. It has a relative density of 4.35 (19/4 ℃) and a melting point of 212 ℃. Upon being heated to 444 ℃, it can be decomposed into metallic silver, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen. It can be heated and melt into a light yellow liquid in a porcelain crucible and then condensed into white crystals after being cold. If you further increase the temperature, then it is gradually decomposed and can generate brown oxide vapor at the same time. When electric current passes through the silver nitrate solution, metallic silver is deposited on the negative electrode. Silver nitrate is easily soluble in ammonia and water, slightly soluble in alcohol, insoluble in acetone, benzene, and almost insoluble in concentrated sulfuric acid. Its aqueous solution was acidic (pH = 5~6). Silver nitrate, in the aqueous solution of ammonia, meets glucose and formaldehyde can be reduced to generate "silver mirror." Zinc, cadmium, tin, lead, copper and other metals are easy to replace the metallic silver in the nitrate silver solution. Silver nitrate, when being mixed with sulfur, can lead to explosion upon being beaten by hammer.
Silver nitrate is an inorganic silver salt and can dissociate silver ions with sterilization, corrosion, erosion, and convergence effect. Its dilute solution has antibacterial and astringent effect while its concentrated solution has a corrosive effect. Topical application of silver ion can bind with bacterial protein to form silver protein precipitate with bactericidal effect. It can be used for treating dentin hypersensitivity, mucosal ulceration, early caries and cavity disinfection.
The above information is edited by the chemicalbook of Dai Xiongfeng.
