Lumpy Silver nitrate

[pdeeh]

This isn't strictly an "silver gelatin & emulsion" question but I thought this is the best subforum to ask about Silver nitrate ...

My (HDPE) tub of Silver nitrate arrived with the contents mostly in a granular mass. Now I've used up all the bits that weren't adhering together, I need to break down the remaining lump into smaller particles that can be weighed out.

Clearly I need to avoid getting it damp ( & so need a dry environment), and I need to protect my eyes, airways and skin from any airborne particles. I'm not quite sure whether I need a safelight environment however.

Normally if I want to break up a granular mass, I dump it in my trusty unglazed ceramic mortar & pestle and have at it. I'm wondering however if I might be better using a Pyrex bowl as it would be easier to clean before use (I'd use DI water) to avoid contamination as far as practicable. But then am not sure what I'd o use as a pestle - a steel or aluminium spoon is surely precluded?

Hmm.

Anyway I'm thinking out loud. If someone who's opinion I trust comes along and tells me to hop off to eBay and buy a glass p&m I'll do that.

 

[Photo Engineer]

If the Silver Nitrate is clear of blemish (no dark spots) it is OK to use, otherwise it may be bad and in need of purification. When you do crush it though, use subdued tungsten illumination. It is light sensitive.

PE

 

[Anon Ymous]

In cases like that, and if there's enough empty space in the container, I just shake it vigorously and the clumpy mass tends to break in smaller pieces.

 

[pdeeh]

Thanks both.

It's all perfectly white. Should be decent quality as branded sigma-aldrich photo grade.

 

[NedL]

OK, so take this for what it's worth.... when that happened to me I stuck a wooden "tongue depressor" or "popsicle stick" in the jar and broke up the mass into pieces that were small enough to weigh. ( wearing goggles and dust mask, but I didn't notice any fine powder coming out )