Making my own Silver Nitrate

[Saganich]

If you have to do this just make sure someone is around to take you to the hospital.

 

[Saganich]

One thing about digital photography, much less exciting, from an exposure to deadly fumes standpoint

One of the reasons I like photography is the ability to tinker with the process, much of which includes chemistry, but one has to understand that you tube videos are biased and rarely show all the mistakes and misfortunes suffered on the road to becoming an expert. Then novices come along and watch a lifetime of work in a 30 minute video and think, "Hey, that's easy!" I guess we all have to start somewhere, just don't do dangerous things alone....not something you want to learn the hard way.

 

[laser]

"Pure" silver needs to be quantified. Kodak uses 99.999% pure silver for emulsion manufacturing. Ingot silver that comes from mines is about 99.9% pure. As described in "Making KODAK Film" 1st and 2nd editions, Kodak purifies the silver that they purchase. The impurities can make a huge difference in photographic performance.

 

[retina_restoration]

I find it difficult to comprehend why someone would feel compelled to make their own silver nitrate, considering the significant risk to their safety.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

100% in agreement there.

the stuff is indeed expensive;it seems for goodreason! But still not worth the hassle or danger and nothing is more valuable as you or your family's health!

 

[Colonial]

Years ago, based on a 19th-century recipe, I tried to make silver nitrate using commercial products, with very poor results. I tried again with a laboratory-grade product, and everything worked fine.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

Cool.

 

[eli griggs]

Yes, but what's the fun in that

Being able to continue enjoying the "Play Mate" of the month with 100% of your current vision and not needing an oxygen machine while doing so.

 

[mshchem]

For the folks just browsing here. I really would discourage this activity unless you have a proper fume hood. In a decent lab this isn't a big deal.

Gasoline and anhydrous ammonia are probably more dangerous, but by a whisker.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I wonder if @Robert Ley went ahead with this? It's been several months...

 

[Robert Ley]

I wonder if @Robert Ley went ahead with this? It's been several months...

No Andrew, fortunately cooler heads prevailed, mainly I came to my senses. BTW does any one need a liter of Nitric Acid?

 

[Donald Qualls]

does any one need a liter of Nitric Acid?

Not badly enough to get on a watch list or drive to Buffalo to get it.

 

[laser]

You will be able to make silver nitrate but it may not be of sufficent purity to be very useful for photographic purposes. The silver that Kodak uses for making silver nitrate is 99.999% pure. The silver used in coinage is not this pure. Kodak starts with high purity silver and adds other elements to produce the desired photographic characteristics in the produced elements.

www.makingKODAKfilm.com