Is old silver nitrate still good?

tnp651 · Dec 4, 2019

I just discovered a bottle of silver nitrate solution that's at least 45 years old. It's in a brown bottle and has been in a drawer for all this time. It's still totally clear. Do you think it's still good?

Andrew O'Neill · Dec 5, 2019

Try it.

138S · Dec 5, 2019

Pure silver nitrate solutions have an indefinite Shelf Life in a sealed container. Photo grade chem is often cheaper than reagent grade because some impurities are allowed, and depending on impurities shelf life can vary.

In photo grade chem often expensive purification was saved while working the same, knowing what impurities can be allowed was a share of the profits. Many times impurities decrease shelf life...

Reagent grade chem has to be very pure usually, but in particular industrial applications some particular impurities are allowed to reduce cost.

As Andrew points best is testing it. Probably your AgNO3 it's good because many low purity silver nitrate solutions are light sensitive and change color, so if after 45 years it's still clear then probably it was a pure enough AgNO3 to last indefinitely. Worth to try it.

https://saltlakemetals.com/product/silver-nitrate/

RauschenOderKorn · Dec 5, 2019

As you say, it is clear, so it should be fine. If it had gone bad, you would see a serious amount of precipitation and/or colour change.

mshchem · Dec 5, 2019

It's absolutely fine. If you have any doubts put a few drops into weak salt water. You will see white silver chloride ppt.

MattKing · Dec 5, 2019

Your real problem will be if it turns out to be better than new silver nitrate.
Where are you going to find more?

NedL · Dec 5, 2019

MattKing said:
Your real problem will be if it turns out to be better than new silver nitrate.
Where are you going to find more?

That's exactly the thought that was going through my head...

caml · Dec 5, 2019

give it a try! post photos if you can afterwards!

also can someone please help me start a new post? i cannot find the "make a new post" or whatever button :/

nmp · Dec 6, 2019

caml said:
give it a try! post photos if you can afterwards!

also can someone please help me start a new post? i cannot find the "make a new post" or whatever button :/

If you click on the individual sub-forum you will see a Post New Thread button on the right hand side above the list of threads.

Luckless · Dec 6, 2019

MattKing said:
Your real problem will be if it turns out to be better than new silver nitrate.
Where are you going to find more?

In the future...

Is old silver nitrate still good?

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