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Silver chloride formula is popularly denoted as AgCl in Chemistry. From chemical reactions to uses in the industry, medical, manufacturing, and fertiliser, it plays a very crucial role as an inorganic salt. Known as the healer, in the medicine industry, it has also touched fields like pottery glazing, and alloy making. Dilution of hydrochloric acid along with silver nitrate solution is the best way of making silver chloride. It is present in nature in the form of chlorargyrite. Let's take a look at the nature of Silver chloride, its chemical formula and composition, and the many uses it serves.
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Key terms - silver chloride formula, chemical compound, inorganic salt
What is Silver Chloride?
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In Chemistry, Silver Chloride is a popularly known chemical compound that occurs in the form of a white crystalline solid. Also known as Silver Monochloride, it is represented by the formula AgCl. The compound occurs naturally in nature, in the form of a mineral which is known by the name chlorargyrite. The solubility power of this compound is very low when present in water and therefore, does not dissolve easily.
It is important to note that, with its less affinity towards water, it is also not soluble in other liquids like alcohol, or any kinds of diluted acids. When Silver Chloride undergoes the process of heating or upon being exposed to light, it starts to break down and convert into silver, and chlorine. This can be identified easily by the compound turning from a greyish colour to black or a shade of purple.
This inorganic salt consists of a cation (Ag+), and an anion (Cl-) in its chemical composition. This compound dissolves easily in ammonia, sulphuric acids, hydrochloride and potassium bromide solution. Being extremely photosensitive in nature, Silver Chloride serves multiple uses in the field of photography.
Properties of Silver Chloride
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Silver Chloride has many important characteristics. Let us take a look at them to get a better understanding about the topic.
Physical Properties of Silver Chloride
- It's an odourless substance.
- The chemical compound that exists in the form of a white crystalline solid.
- It has a molecular weight of exactly 143.32 grams/mol.
- It possesses a density of 5.56 gram/cm3.
- Silver Chloride has a melting point of 455 °C.
- The inorganic salt has a boiling point of 1,547 °C.
Chemical Properties of Silver Chloride
- Silver Monochloride is insoluble in water.
- Possess a threat to water bodies, and wildlife.
- Being an ionic compound, it is insoluble in alcohols.
- It is sensitive to light, therefore used in photography.
- Highly corrosive in nature to metals present above itself in the electrochemical series.
- Can be made soluble only after diluting it with ammonia, or potassium bromide.
- Has a very toxic nature and can cause harm to skin, and respiratory tract by causing irritation or a burning sensation.
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Uses of Silver Chloride
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- It is efficiently used to make pottery glazes, as it has a low solubility. It produces an inglaze lustre-like substance, which is used in the particular field.
- Serves many uses in photography like, it is used to make photographic lenses because of its reversible nature.
- Used to prepare photographic paper through which it forms certain reactions with photons.
- It is widely used in electroplating, and in preparation of alloys.
- It helps in eliminating mercury, thereby to make an antidote for cases of mercury poisoning.
- It is used to make bandages and is commonly found in healing substances like antiseptics.
- Stops the growth of bacteria, thereby acts as an antimicrobial agent in deodorants.
- As it destroys bacteria, the compound also helps in preserving drinking water for a long time in water tanks where fungus tends to breed.
- Creates a yellowish-like amber shade in stained glasses.
- As Silver Chloride is treated by being hot-pressed into windows, it plays the role of an infrared transmissive optical component. It can also be found in lens shapes.
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Silver Chloride Formula
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The formula for Silver chloride is given as AgCl. This compound is also called by the name Chloro Silver or Chlorargyrite. It has different purposes and is vital in different fields.
Things to Remember
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- Silver chloride is a common chemical compound which is insoluble in any basic, aqueous, or acidic solution. Precipitation is the easiest way to break down into silver and chlorine gas. It was first discovered in the 1770s.
- The chemical formula for Silver chloride is AgCl. Its position in the electrochemical series determines its toxic nature. A popular chemist from Sweden called Carl Wilhelm Scheele, was the one who discovered silver chloride initially.
- The chemical compound possesses many unique physical and chemical properties which are useful and devised in many fields. It should be noted down that silver chloride cannot dissolve in water, along with alcohol and a couple more compounds.
- In order to make silver chloride soluble, the help of ammonia is taken. It assists in removing mercury, therefore helpful in the case of mercury poisoning. Silver chloride also acts as an antimicrobial agent which is why it can be found in medicines.
- The compound has no odour and is white in colour. It is present in the crystalline form and has a molecular mass of 143.32 grams/mol. Silver chloride is present naturally in the form of a mineral called chlorargyrite.
- This inorganic salt possesses a great threat to animals, as well as aquatic life. This is because silver chloride has a very corrosive nature. Silver chloride quickly begins to get darker in colour, as soon as it is in contact with light. This reaction is used in photographic lenses.
- Although the compound is safe when a small concentration is in question. However, if swallowed, silver chloride can lead to many health hazards like argyria, which is the discoloration of our body tissues present inside. It also disrupts the normal functioning of the body, and causes irritation in mucous membranes.
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Sample Questions
Ques. Does Silver chloride occur naturally? Where can we find silver chloride in nature? (3 marks)
Ans. Yes, Silver chloride does occur naturally. It has the chemical formula AgCl, and in nature, it can be found in the form of chlorargyrite. The chemical compound has the nature of a mineral. When AgCl undergoes the process of heating, or illumination, it breaks into silver, and chlorine and can be observed to have a whute crystalline form. People usually prefer the method of chemical synthesis to obtain the compound. It is also very economical this way.
Ques. What is the way to synthesise Silver chloride? (2 marks)
Ans. The most popular method to synthesise silver chloride is to take help of an aqueous solution of silver nitrate, and mix it with sodium chloride. Instead of the above pair, one can also choose to go with a similar solution of cobalt(II) chloride along with silver nitrate. Upon precipitation, it will end up giving white silver chloride as its end product.
Ques. What will happen if you put silver chloride in the sunlight? (3 marks)
Ans. Silver chloride, which is present in the form of white crystalline solid, upon being exposed to direct sunlight, photodecomposition reaction starts taking place. Here, the white inorganic substance starts forming a black colloured silver, with some metallic touches to it. It also gives out chlorine gas into the air. The reaction is given as
2AgCl(s)---------> 2Ag(s) + Cl2(g), silver chloride is exposed to light.
white grey
Ques. Is it possible to get silver chloride in its purest form? (2 marks)
Ans. Pure silver chloride can be easily obtained by just diluting hydrochloric acid and silver nitrate solution. The former contains the chloride ion, whereas the latter gives the silver ion. This being subjected to precipitation, will give silver chloride which will be insoluble in water. This compound is now an inorganic salt and has a molar mass of 143.318 g mol-1.
Ques. Who discovered silver chloride? (3 marks)
Ans. Swedish pharmaceutical chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, was the one who discovered Silver chloride in the 1770s. He took the initiative to study and analyse the properties of silver chloride like its corrosive nature, and its reaction with other compounds. Later he put together that the compound was reduced to metallic silver, because of being exposed to direct sunlight. He is now popularly known for being one of the major co discoverers of oxygen.
Ques. What are the health hazards of silver chloride? (3 marks)
Ans. However useful in different fields, there are always cons to a thing. Silver chloride is no different. It is known that excessive or prolonged exposure to the inorganic salt can lead to disturbances in the respiratory tracts, breathing problems, or irritation in skin. This is because silver chloride is highly corrosive in nature. Due to being so dangerous, the usage of the compound should be monitored as it can also cause severe health problems in digestion, pigmentation of the skin, and seizures.
Ques. In what ways is Silver Chloride useful? (3 marks)
Ans. Silver Chloride has many benefits about itself other than being utilised in Chemistry. As it has many antiseptic properties, it is used as a disinfectant in many places like ointments or healing products. It also stops bacteria from growing in water tanks. Moreover, it is widely used in photography, in lenses and photpgra[hic paper. Apart from all this, the compound is an excellent antimicrobial agent, and is used in mercury poisoning.
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