Electrolysis of Silver nitrate solution at 0° C. yields at the anode a black, crystalline substance of metallic lustre. It readily loses oxygen,
Silver nitrate entering into solution, and the residual crystals of silver peroxynitrate have the formula 2Ag3O4,AgNO3. It changes slowly, with
evolution of oxygen, into 3Ag2O,AgNO3. According to Weber, the presence of between 15 and 25 per cent, of nitric acid inhibits the deposition of the
peroxynitrate at the anode, but produces a brown solution. Weber regards the oxide portion of the salt as having the formula Ag(AgO2)2, analogous to
that of magnetic iron oxide, and considers it to be the silver salt of an unstable argentic acid, HAgO2. It is a compound of silver in which the metal
has a valency greater than unity. |