Silver chloride
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
Silver chloride
| |
| Other names
Argentous chloride
Cerargyrite Chlorargyrite Horn silver Silver(I) chloride | |
| Properties | |
| AgCl | |
| Molar mass | 143.32 g/mol |
| Appearance | White solid |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 5.56 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 455 °C (851 °F; 728 K) |
| Boiling point | 1,547 °C (2,817 °F; 1,820 K) |
| 0.00052 g/100 ml (50 °C) | |
| Solubility | Soluble in NH3, conc. HCl, conc. H2SO4, alkali cyanide |
| Vapor pressure | ~0 mmHg |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar
entropy (S |
96 J·mol−1·K−1 |
| Std enthalpy of
formation (ΔfH |
−127 kJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| Safety data sheet | Sigma-Aldrich |
| Flash point | Non-flammable |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
| LD50 (Median dose)
|
5,000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds
|
Silver(I) fluoride Silver bromide Silver iodide |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
| Infobox references | |
Silver chloride is an inorganic chemical compound with the chemical formula AgCl. The compound is known for its extremely low water solubility.
Contents
Properties
Chemical
Silver chloride will slowly decompose when exposed to light into silver metal and chlorine gas.
- 2 AgCl → 2 Ag + Cl2
Silver chloride does not react with nitric acid. Thus, silver metal will not dissolve in aqua regia.
Physical
Silver chloride is an insoluble white solid, which slowly decomposes when exposed to light.
Availability
Silver chloride is sold by chemical suppliers. Since it's a silver compound, it's not very cheap.
AgCl occurs naturally as a mineral chlorargyrite.
Preparation
Silver chloride is extremely easy to prepare by metathesis reaction: a soluble chloride salt, like NaCl is added as solution to a solution of a soluble silver salt, such as silver nitrate. Due to its extremely low solubility, silver chloride will precipitate out of the solution, and can be filtered from the resulting suspension, washed and then dried.
- AgNO3 + NaCl → NaNO3 + AgCl
Projects
- Make photographic paper (photography)
- Silver chloride electrode (common reference electrode in electrochemistry)
- Pottery glazes ("Inglaze lustre")
- Antidote for mercury poisoning
- Compound collecting
Handling
Safety
Silver chloride may be harmful if ingested in large amounts, but usually it doesn't pose a serious health risk. May cause silver stains though.
Storage
In closed amber glass or plastic bottles, away from light and reducing agents.
Disposal
Since silver is expensive, AgCl should be recycled. This can be done by reducing the compound to Ag metal, which is then collected and stored for further uses.
