This section is from the book "Laboratory Manual Of Pharmacology", by A. D. Bush. Also available from Amazon: Laboratory manual of pharmacology.
Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) is prepared by treating pure silver with pure diluted nitric acid, with crystallization. The salt should be kept in dark, amber-colored bottles, away from light.
Properties: | |
Appearance................................................................................................ | Solubility: |
Color................................................................ | Cold H2O....................................................................................... |
Odor........................................................................ | Hot H2O ....................................................................................... |
Taste (cautiously).............................................................................. | C2H5OH.......................................................................................... |
Evaporate a drop of the aqueous solution on the hand.............................................................................................
Evaporate another drop on a porcelain dish.............................................................................................................................
Incompatibilities: Practically everything.
Silver Nitrate is an efficient prophylactic for ophthalmia neonatorum, I drop of a 1 % solution being placed in each eye of the newly-born infant. It is of great service in the purulent conjunctivitis of adults. In general local application it is an efficient germicide; caustic in stronger solutions. Internally, it is somewhat rarely used in low forms of gastritis and in gastric ulcer. Dose, 0.01 Gm.
Other official salts of Silver are: Argenti nitras fusus, containing 94.5% AgNO3 (lunar caustic); argenti oxidum, an unequal substitute for the nitrate.
 
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