Safety Data Sheet: Silver Nitrate

Silver, the raw material behind Salt Lake Metals silver nitrate

Safety Data Sheet

Silver Nitrate, 99.9%

AgNO3 · CAS 7761-88-8 · UN1493

Formula Weight169.87
Silver Content63.5% by weight
Purity99.9%
NFPA 704Health 2 · Fire 0 · Reactivity 0 · OX
Storage CodeYellow (Reactive)
Shop Silver NitrateSolubility data

1. Product Identification

  • Synonyms: Silver(I) Nitrate, Lunar Caustic
  • CAS: 7761-88-8
  • Formula Weight: 169.87 (63.5% Silver metal by weight)
  • Chemical Formula: AgNO3
  • Reportable Quantity: 454 grams
  • NFPA 704 ratings: Health 2, Flammability 0, Reactivity 0, Special OX

2. Composition

Silver Nitrate: 99.9%

3. Hazards, NFPA 704

  • Health Rating: 2 – Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury.
  • Flammability Rating: 0 – None.
  • Reactivity Rating: 0 – Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water.
  • Contact Rating: 3 – Severe (Corrosive).
  • Lab Protective Equipment: Safety goggles and/or face shield. Latex gloves. Good ventilation.
  • Storage Color Code: Yellow (Reactive).

See About NFPA 704 for what each rating means.

4. First Aid Measures

Inhalation

Remove to fresh air. Crystals will sting the nasal passages. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Ingestion

If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Give a quantity of salt water. The salt water and stomach acid will immediately form Silver Chloride, which is much less harmful. Get medical attention immediately if the quantity ingested is more than a gram.

Skin Contact

Rub skin with table salt and a little water. Skin will probably turn dark when exposed to sunlight. The stain will vanish in a few weeks.

Eye Contact

Immediately flush eyes with plenty of distilled water. The salt in tears will form white Silver Chloride immediately. This Silver Chloride may attach to the eye. Get medical attention immediately.

5. Fire Fighting Measures

Fire: Use an extinguishing agent suitable for surrounding fires.

Explosion: Reacts with ammonia to form an explosive fulminating silver when dry.

6. Accidental Release Measures

Wear protective equipment. Clean up in a way that does not disperse the crystals into the air. If it is released into water, add table salt to immediately form the less harmful Silver Chloride.

Special Note: Disposal of even small quantities of Silver Nitrate in waste systems connected to a septic tank is guaranteed to destroy the septic bacteria and require pumping out, flushing and seeding with fresh bacteria.

7. Handling and Storage

Store in a closed container. Silver Nitrate is not very light sensitive, but it does absorb air moisture.

8. Exposure Limits, Airborne

Standard Limit
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) 0.01 mg/m3 (TWA) as silver metal dust
ACGIH Threshold Limit Value (TLV) 0.01 mg/m3 (TWA) as soluble silver compounds

9. Physical and Chemical Properties

Property Value
Appearance Transparent white colored crystals
Odor Odorless
Solubility 2,190 g per 1000 ml water at 20°C (68°F)
Specific Gravity 4.352
pH 6
Boiling Point 444°C (831°F), decomposes
Melting Point 212°C (414°F), forms a brown viscous liquid
Vapor Density (Air = 1) 4.4
Vapor Pressure (mm Hg) Very low

10. Stability and Reactivity

  • Stability: Stable at room temperature in sealed containers.
  • Hazardous Decomposition Products: Oxides of nitrogen.
  • Incompatibilities: Ammonia. Forms an explosive when dry.
  • Conditions to Avoid: Do not allow solutions of Silver Nitrate and Ammonia to dry out.

11. Transport Information

Domestic (Land, DOT)

Item Classification
Hazard Class 5.1
Packing Group II
UN/NA Per USPS Publication 52, Silver Nitrate is item number UN1493
  • ORM-D: USPS can ship within the United States only.
  • ORM-D Packaging instruction 5A: Consumer Commodity ORM-D AIR. The weight of the contents of the primary packing container cannot exceed 1 kg.
  • Outer Packaging: A strong outer packaging capable of firmly and securely holding the primary receptacle and cushioning material is required.
  • Mailability: International mail is prohibited. Domestic mail is permitted via air transportation (Express Mail, Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail rates) or surface transportation (Standard Mail rates).

12. Manufacturer and Supplier

Salt Lake Metals
PO Box 200
Nephi, UT 84648
Email: saltlakemetals2003@gmail.com