Silver, Ag+
Most common oxidation state: +1
M.P. 961o
B.P. 2210o
Density 10.49 g/cm3
Characteristics: An inactive metal. It will react with hot concentrated H2SO4, with HNO3, and with aqua regia.
Characteristic reactions of Ag+:
Chloride Ion:
Soluble chlorides, such as hydrochloric acid, precipitate silver ion as white silver(I) chloride.
Silver(I) chloride is insoluble in acids, including HNO3. The precipitate does dissolve in aqueous ammonia:
Addition of an acid to this solution, such as HNO3, destroys the complex ion and re-precipitates silver(I) chloride:
Sulfate Ion:
No reaction occurs on addition of sulfate ion unless the concentration of Ag+ is high, in which case silver(I) sulfate precipitates.
Aqueous Ammonia:
Aqueous ammonia precipitates brown Ag2O:
The silver(I) oxide precipitate dissolves in excess ammonia to form a colorless complex ion:
Sodium Hydroxide:
Sodium hydroxide precipitates silver(I) oxide:
Silver(I) oxide does not dissolve in excess NaOH.