Many experiments use silver nitrate, including mirror silvering and metal displacement.Buying silver nitrate is expensive, but nitric acid and silver bars can be purchased cheaply, so it is easy to make.The reaction produces hazardous fumes, so you need to use caution and wear protective equipment.
Step 1: Wear protective equipment.
The chemicals needed for this process are toxic and can cause injury if mishandled.Eye protection, gloves, and a lab coat are needed to stay safe.Long pants and closed-toe shoes should be worn to protect against spills.It's a good idea to protect your eyes from splashes.Gloves made of latex or nitrile should be worn.If you spill any solutions on yourself, wear a lab coat or a second layer of clothing that can easily be removed.If you want to wear glasses instead of contact lenses, put them under your eye protection.Chemical fumes can get trapped under your contacts.
Step 2: There is a well-ventilated room.
The gases released when making silver nitrate can be deadly if breathed in.If you don't have access to a fume hood, you can work outside in aventilated area.If you are working in the garage, open the door.Make sure the air circulates by turning on the fans.Don't bend over the reaction and inhale the fumes.
Step 3: Tell someone about the experiment.
It is a good idea to let someone know that you will be doing something dangerous.Your friend can check on you to make sure you're okay and, in case something goes wrong, your friend will know what you were working with and can relay the information to medical personnel.
Step 4: The necessary materials should be gathered.
A clean glass container, a piece of pure silver, aluminum wire, and a hot plate are needed to make silver nitrate.Depending on how much silver nitrate you are trying to make, the amount of nitric acid and silver needed is dependent on the size of the glass container.The workspace needs to be properly ventilated because the fumes released during this process are very toxic.There is a chemical lab supply store.Adding ACID to WATER is always the way to go if you have to reduce the nitric acid.Adding water to acid can cause injury.You can buy pure silver online at a precious metals dealer.
Step 5: Put concentrated nitric acid in a glass container.
The silver nitrate will be free of impurities if the glass container is clean.The piece of silver you have will be almost completely submerged if you add enough nitric acid.Taking care not to spill anything, pour the nitric acid into the container.When handling nitric acid, wear protective gloves, eyewear, and a lab coat.
Step 6: The wire should be wrapped around the silver.
You can have a little more control over the reaction with aluminum.If the solution starts to boil too much, you can remove the silver from it by wrapping the aluminum around it and leaving enough of a tail.
Step 7: Put the piece of silver in the acid.
Make sure you are working in a hood or outside before putting the silver in the nitric acid.The silver should be put in the nitric acid.As the reaction begins, you should see some bubbles.
Step 8: The acid will cause the silver to bubble.
Please don't perform this indoors because it will create toxic gases.Don't breathe in the gases if you lean over the solution.Work in a hood, outside, or wear a mask.When you see the silver start to bubble, place the container on the hot plate.During this process, you won't be able to see everything that is happening.As the reaction continues to keep the solution from boiling over, turn the heat down.
Step 9: Wait until the silver is completely dissolved.
Depending on the size of your piece of silver, this process can take a few hours.Adding more heat might be needed to keep the reaction going.As the container moves, keep an eye on it.The aluminum wire can be used to lift the silver piece out of the solution.Remove the container from the heat when the silver is dissolved.
Step 10: Until the solution is completely gone, let it stand.
It will take a few days to complete the final step.You can see the silver nitrate at the bottom of the container when the solution cools.You will be left with the silver nitrate crystals after a few days.The silver nitrate should be kept away from light and placed in an air-tight container.