Silver

Lecture by:
Manish Baskota
Department of Chemistry
Capitol Hill College, Teku.
 Silver:
Symbol: Ag Atomic No.: 47
Valency: 1 Atomic wt.: 107.9 amu
Oxidation state: +1 Group: IB
Electronic configuration: [Kr]4d10, 5s1

Occurrence:
In Nepal, silver is found in Khanigaon Bandipur

Ores:
Argentite or silver glance: Ag2S Horn silver: AgCl
Silver copper glance: Cu2S.Ag2S Ruby silver: Ag2SbS3
 Extraction of Silver:
Silver is extracted from Argentite ore (Ag2S) by cyanide process. The
various steps involved are:
1. Crushing and concentration:
The ore is crushed, powdered and then concentrated by froth
floatation process. In this method, the powdered ore is mixed with
water and some pine oil in a tank. The mixture is agitated by
compressed air. The ore particles, wetted by oil, float on the froth
and impurities wetted by water, remains at the bottom of the tank

Fig: Froth – floatation process

2. Sodium cyanide treatment (leaching):
The concentrated ore is treated with dilute solution of 0.4
– 0.7% NaCN. This forms the soluble complex of sodium
argentocyanide.
Ag2S + NaCN Na2S + 2AgCN
AgCN + NaCN Na[Ag(CN)2]
sodium argentocyanide

The equilibrium is shifted to forward direction by blowing

air through the solution. The air oxidize the sodium
sulphide to sodium thiosulphate and sulphur.
2Na2S + 2H2O + O2 4NaOH + 2S
2Na2S + H2O + O2 2NaOH + Na2S2O3
3. Precipitation:
The above solution containing sodium argentocyanide is
filtered to remove insoluble impurities. The filtrate is
treated with zinc dust. Zinc is more electropositive hence
displaces silver from the solution.
2Na[Ag(CN)2] + Zn Na2[Zn(CN)4] + 2Ag

Thus obtained silver is called spongy silver. The mass

obtained is filtered and then strongly heated with borax or
potassium nitrate to get compact silver.
4. Purification by Electrolytic method:
Crude silver thus obtained contains impurities like Zn, Cu,
Au, Pb etc. and purified by electrolytic method. In this
method, impure silver is made anode and pure silver is
made cathode. AgNO3 solution acidified with 1% HNO3 is
used as electrolyte.

Electrolytic refining of silver

 On passing current, impure silver loses electron to
dissolved in the solution and pure silver get deposited at
the cathode. Impurities are settled below the anode as
anode mud.
AgNO3 Ag+ + NO3-

At anode: Ag Ag+ + e-
At cathode: Ag+ + e- Ag
Uses of silver:
i. Silver copper alloy is used for making jewellery and coins.
ii. Silver salts are used in photography.
iii. Silver salts are used in mirror as silver plating.
iv. Used in making electrode wire.
v. Used in medicine as tonic.
 Compounds of Silver:
1. Silver nitrate: AgNO3
Silver nitrate is commonly called as Lunar caustic. Silver is
in +1 oxidation state in this compound.
Preparation:
It is prepared by dissolving silver in hot nitric acid (1:1)
followed by crystallization.
3Ag + 4HNO3 ∆ 3AgNO3 + NO + 2H2O
1:1

Crystallization
AgNO3 AgNO3 (s)
Aq.
 Uses:
i. Used in preparation of permanent ink.
ii. Used as laboratory reagent for identification of acid
radicals.
iii. Used in preparation of Tollen’s reagent.
iv. Used to prepare silver halide.
v. Used for silvering of mirror.
2. Silver Chloride: AgCl
It is commonly known as horn silver.
Preparation:
AgCl is prepared by adding solution of soluble chloride to
silver nitrate solution in dark. White precipitate of AgCl is
obtained, which is filtered, washed and dried at 70oC to get
dry AgCl.
NaCl + AgNO3 AgCl(s) + NaNO3
Aq. Aq. White ppt. Aq.

Uses:
i. It is used in preparation of photographic film and papers
in photography.
ii. Used as laboratory reagent.
 Question:
1. Why does silver nitrate produce black stain on the skin in
the presence of sun light?
When silver nitrate comes in contact with skin in presence
of sunlight, it get decomposed to give silver metal which
produce black stain on skin.
hv
2AgNO3 2Ag + 2NO2 + O2

2. Why is silver nitrate solution used for staining fingers of

voters during election?
When silver nitrate comes in contact with skin in
presence of sunlight, it get decomposed to give silver
metal which produce black stain on skin.
 hv
2AgNO3 2Ag + 2NO2 + O2

That’s why silver nitrate is used to stain fingers of voters

during election.
3. What is meant by spongy silver?
During the extraction of silver from silver glance by
cyanide process, the solution of argento cyanide combines
with zinc dust to give precipitated silver. This produced
precipitated silver is called spongy silver.
4. Give the various steps involved in the extraction of silver
from silver glance.