Silver nitrate

[cliveh]

I have a quantity of silver nitrate I don't need. How can I dispose of it safely?

 

[koraks]

If you want us to move this to the Classifieds so you can give it away, just hit "report" and indicate that this is what you want.

 

[xkaes]

I guess some haven't read about the current value of HIGH-OH-silver!!!

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/as-of-1-19-26-silver-is-89-oz.218185/

 

[mshchem]

It's got to be used by some wet plate salted paper person. Of course if you have a few grams dissolve it in water add salt and you get silver chloride which is pretty unreactive. Don't put silver nitrate in the trash it can start a fire. Unlikely but it's quite reactive

 

[koraks]

Of course if you have a few grams dissolve it in water add salt and you get silver chloride which is pretty unreactive.

Then put it in a sunny spot until the beaker is entirely black (or very dark brown), at which point it's just silver. Wait a few more days and the water will be clear with a black layer at the bottom. Dispose if in whatever way you fancy; it's basically harmless at this point.
The silver chloride is virtually harmless as well, but tends to leave nasty stains.

 

[snusmumriken]

Dispose if in whatever way you fancy; it's basically harmless at this point.
The silver chloride is virtually harmless as well, but tends to leave nasty stains.

Silver salts in general are hazardous to aquatic environments and must not be allowed to get into water courses.

Presumably @cliveh is not talking of industrial quantities, but care and common sense are called for.

 

[koraks]

Point taken; in case the desire exists to discard this in a waste water stream, take care to reduce it to metallic silver first.