Product Description.:
Silver nitrate is a natural substance that has found various uses by man throughout history. While at first these uses were predominantly medical in nature, now there are a multitude of chemical, biological and industrial uses for silver nitrate. This most inexpensive of silver salts is transparent, colorless, and odorless, yet it finds its way into the production of photographic film! Silver nitrate is a real workhorse.
Silver nitrate was first recognized as a germicide at a time when there really were no other known germicides and antiseptics. Until modern times, silver nitrate was literally a lifesaver. For a long time, doctors put silver nitrate drops into the eyes of infants to avoid the transmission of certain diseases from their mothers. All sorts of wounds were treated topically with silver nitrate. Now, with modern medicines, it is not used often, although it is still useful in the treatment of burn wounds.
In chemistry, silver nitrate is used as a regeant. It can be used to test for the presence of chloride, bromide, or iodide ions. In biology it is employed as a silver stain to demonstrate proteins and nucleic acids. Silver nitrate is also used in scanning electron microscopy.
Manufacturing and industry have many uses for silver nitrate, too. It is economical and comes in a variety of solutions. As mentioned, it is used in film production. Silver nitrate is one of the bases of the photographic gel applied to strips of tri-acetae. Silver nitrate is also used in mirrors, inks, hair dyes, silver plating, and in silver based explosives. Commercial florists use it to extend the life of cut flowers. It truly is a versatile compound.
