Silver Nitrate is a versatile inorganic compound that is a caustic silver salt and an inorganic nitrate salt. There are many different forms and grades of Silver Nitrate. It is an extremely useful precursor in the manufacture of other silver salts, as a laboratory analytical reagent and as an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

HOW IS SILVER NITRATE MADE?

Silver Nitrate is prepared by dissolving Silver in Nitric acid and then evaporating the solution. The reaction produces by-products that depend on the Nitric acid concentration used, but usually include water and Nitrogen oxides. The reaction must be carried out under a fume hood because of the evolution of poisonous nitrogen oxides. The emanating Nitrogen dioxide gas can color the solution red and the solution will get darker as the reaction proceeds.

PROPERTIES OF SILVER NITRATE

Silver Nitrate comes as a colorless or white crystalline solid that turns black on exposure to light and organic materials. It crystallizes in transparent plates with a melting point of 212°C (414°F). When heated to 320°C (608°F), it loses Oxygen and forms Silver Nitrite. At a red heat it transforms into Silver. On decomposition Silver Nitrate yields Silver, oxygen gas and nitrite. It is far less sensitive to light than silver halides.

As a solid Silver Nitrate has a density of 4.35 g/cm³ and 3.97 g/cm³ as liquid at 210°C. The melting and boiling points are 210°C and 440°C, respectively. It tends to decompose at temperatures approaching its boiling point. Silver Nitrate, like most ionic compounds, dissolves readily in water. Its solubility in water corresponds to 122 g/100mL at 0°C and 256g/100mL at 25°C. It is moderately soluble in Methanol and Ethanol and not as soluble in various other organic solvents. It reacts explosively with Ethanol.

The highest purity grades of bulk Silver Nitrate meet the USP/FCC and ACS’s standards. ACS grade Silver Nitrate is at least 95% pure and has high integrity. Silver Nitrate is also available as standardized solution.

WHAT IS SILVER NITRATE USED FOR?

Silver Nitrate has many uses, including as an astringent, precursor to other Silver-containing compounds, NMR chemical shift reference compound and in many fields spanning biology, chemical synthesis and medicine. Silver Nitrate is a very versatile compound because the Nitrate ion is replaceable by other ligands that can bind to the silver ion. Since this compound forms a precipitate of silver halides when treated with halide ions, it is used for photographic films. Many Silver-based explosives can be prepared with a precipitation reaction of Silver Nitrate. In inorganic chemistry, halides are extracted with the help of this compound. Analytical chemistry uses this reaction to check for the presence of halide anions, such as the iodide, bromide, or chloride. Mixtures of alkenes also can be separated with Silver Nitrate since the Silver cation binds reversibly with alkenes.

Silver Nitrate is important in the industrial manufacture of other silver salts and as a reagent in analytical chemistry. It is often employed as a precursor to other Silver-containing compounds. It finds use in making photographic films, in laboratory settings as a staining agent in protein visualization and in scanning electron microscopy. It has a role as an astringent and an NMR chemical shift reference compound.

Antiseptic: Silver Nitrate acts as a germicide and anti-infective. Silver Nitrate is commonly used in dermatological applications due to its antiseptic and cauterizing properties. Silver Nitrate in the form of an applicator stick can be applied on the skin or mucous membranes. When diluted with water to 0.5%, Silver Nitrate can serve as an antiseptic in many medical setups. It is also used for treating and removing unwanted warts in humans. Once activated with water or body fluids, Silver Nitrate works by burning off the skin or tissue. Silver’s antimicrobial activity saw many applications prior to the discovery of modern antibiotics, when it fell into near disuse. Its association with argyria (skin discoloration) also made consumers wary and led them to use alternatives.

Silver Nitrate was formerly used as a 10% solution but was found to be toxic at this concentration. It was then reinstated as a non-toxic 0.5% solution. Silver Nitrate is effective in vitro against Neisseria gonorrheae and Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of about 0.1% and against Escherichia coli at 0.01%. It is valuable in vivo against most strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and also has activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is less active against other gram-negative species, such as Enterobacter and Klebsiella. The ability of the silver ion at inactivating Escherichia coli, an indicator for fecal contamination and as a surrogate for pathogens, is important. A 1-2 % solution is effective against gonococcal bacteria and may be applied to the eyes of newborn infants to protect against blindness from gonorrhea. It does not injure the regenerating epithelium in the wound.

Wound Treatment: Silver Nitrate is commonly used in wound care to prevent infection and promote healing. It can be applied topically to wounds as a powder or a solution.

Cauterization: Silver Nitrate sticks are used for cauterizing minor wounds or for removing unwanted tissue, such as warts or granulation tissue.

Chemical Skin Peels: In dermatology, Silver Nitrate is used as a peeling agent to remove dead skin cells and promote skin regeneration in procedures such as chemical peels.

Mechanism of Action: Free Silver ions precipitate bacterial proteins by combining with chloride in tissue and forming silver chloride; it coagulates cellular proteins to form an eschar or scab. The germicidal action is credited to the precipitation of bacterial proteins by free silver ions. Therapeutic Effect: Inhibits growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The Silver ion is precipitated by the chloride in tissue fluids; as a result, it does not readily penetrate skin.

Other Uses: What are the some of the other uses of Silver Nitrate? It is widely used in many organic synthesis reactions. For example, in deprotection and oxidation reactions. The Ag+ ion reversibly binds alkenes, and the selective adsorption of Silver Nitrate can be used to isolate alkene mixtures. The resulting adducts decompose with ammonia. Silver Nitrate was in the past also used for silver staining.

Pure Silver Nitrate is an intermediate in the preparation of other silver salts, including the colloidal silver compounds used in medicine and the silver halides incorporated into photographic emulsions. In analytical chemistry, aqueous solutions of Silver Nitrate are used in the volumetric determination of halides, cyanides, and thiocyanates, as well as for the detection of reducing agents and cations of various acids that form insoluble silver salts.

Silver Nitrate is used in making photographic films, and in scanning electron microscopy. In histology, Silver Nitrate finds applications for silver staining and for demonstrating reticular fibers and nucleic acids. It is also employed for demonstrating proteins in PAGE gels. Silver Nitrate is used to extend the useful lifetime of commercial cut flowers by limiting their ability to make Ethylene.

Handling and Storage: Silver Nitrate should be handled carefully and stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and incompatible materials. Proper safety protocols should be followed when handling and disposing Silver Nitrate to minimize the risk of accidents or exposure.

HOW DOES SILVER NITRATE WORK?

Silver Nitrate is the least expensive of the silver salts; it offers also several other advantages: In contrast to silver fluoroborate and silver perchlorate it is non-hygroscopic. It is relatively stable to light and dissolves in numerous solvents, including water. The nitrate can be easily replaced by other ligands, rendering it very versatile.

Treatment of Silver Nitrate with halide ion solutions 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 Silver-based explosives, such as the fulminate, azide, or acetylide. Treatment of Silver Nitrate with base gives dark grey silver oxide.

How does Silver Nitrate heal a wound? Silver Nitrate interacts with proteins and other compounds in skin tissue, leading to several effects:

• Antimicrobial Action: with its potent antimicrobial properties, it is effective against many bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It denatures proteins and disrupts cellular processes in microorganisms, ultimately killing them or inhibiting their growth.
• Cauterization: Silver Nitrate acts as an acidic agent, forming a superficial scab. This cauterizing effect helps control bleeding by coagulating blood vessels and sealing the wound, thereby reducing infection risks.

When was Silver Nitrate treatment for eyes discontinued? In the 1980s, Silver Nitrate was mostly replaced by erythromycin and tetracycline treatments are better tolerated by eyes and more effective against Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

IS SILVER NITRATE SAFE?

Silver Nitrate is effective in wound care. It must be used with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Some potential risks and side effects associated with the its use on open wounds include:

• Skin Staining: Silver Nitrate can cause temporary skin staining, turning it dark brown or black upon exposure to sunlight. This staining is harmless and typically fades over time.
• Tissue Damage: Prolonged or excessive exposure to Silver Nitrate can lead to chemical burns or irritation of the surrounding healthy tissue. Care should be taken to apply it only to the wound bed and to avoid contact with healthy skin.
• Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may be allergic to it, resulting in skin irritation, itching, or rash upon contact. It is best to perform a patch test before actual use, especially in sensitive individuals.
• Toxicity: Ingestion or excessive absorption of Silver Nitrate through the skin can lead to toxicity symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or systemic effects. Despite its common usage in extremely low concentrations to prevent gonorrhea and control nosebleeds, Silver Nitrate is still very toxic and corrosive. Brief exposure will not produce any immediate side effects other than purple, brown or black stains on the skin, but upon constant exposure to high concentrations, side effects will be noticeable, which include burns. Long-term exposure may cause eye damage. Silver Nitrate is known to be a skin and eye irritant.
• Ingesting Silver Nitrate can cause violent abdominal pains, vomiting, and diarrhea, and may lead to gastroenteritis. Exposure to Silver Nitrate may also cause headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. It may give a blue color to skin and lips (methemoglobinemia), discoloration (argyria) of the eyes, inner nose, mouth, throat and internal body organs.
• Silver Nitrate has not yet been thoroughly investigated for potential carcinogenic effects.

Safety Considerations and Precautions Skin Staining: Silver Nitrate can cause temporary skin staining. Patients should be advised of this and other potential side effect noted above. When using Silver Nitrate near eyes, it is crucial to take precautions to protect the eyes from accidental exposure, which can otherwise cause irritation or injury.

Toxicity: While Silver Nitrate is generally safe for topical use in appropriate concentrations, excessive exposure or ingestion can lead to toxicity symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Care should be taken to avoid ingestion and contact with mucous membranes.

Silver Nitrate is an oxidant and must, therefore, be kept away from organic compounds. Although Silver Nitrate doesn’t cause many side effects, it can cause chemical burns or stains if not handled properly.

You should consult with your healthcare professionals prior to use. They need to know if you have any of these conditions: large areas of burned or damaged skin, pregnancy and an unusual or allergic reaction to Silver Nitrate, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives.

It is critical to use Silver Nitrate only as directed and to store it safely out of reach of children and pets.

CARBOMER, INC.’S SILVER NITRATE

CarboMer, Inc. offers Silver Nitrate in different grades including as pharmaceutical USP grade, as high purity ACS grade as well as standardized solutions.

CarboMer, Inc.’s commitment to providing the highest-quality Silver Nitrate. Adherence to these regulatory standards guarantees that clients always receive reliable Silver Nitrate of excellent quality.

SUMMARY

Features and Benefits of Silver Nitrate:

It is a very versatile compendial excipient. It is also a useful precursor in the manufacture of other silver salts, as a laboratory analytical reagent and as an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Silver Nitrate has many uses spanning many fields in biology, chemical synthesis and medicine.