Silver Nitrate 0.01 N Solution, 1 L

• What it is. This silver nitrate solution is a dilute 0.01 N (0.01 M) volumetric titrant, supplied in a 1 L size. It is a clear, colorless standard for determining low levels of chloride and other halides, where a weaker titrant gives better resolution.
• What each milliliter titrates. A 0.01 N solution contains about 1.699 g of AgNO3 per liter, and each milliliter precipitates 0.3545 mg of chloride, or 0.5844 mg of sodium chloride (calculated). This makes it suitable for samples with chloride in the low milligram-per-liter range.
• The Mohr method. In the Mohr method, you titrate chloride with silver nitrate using potassium chromate indicator. White silver chloride precipitates first; once chloride is used up, excess silver forms red-brown silver chromate, marking the endpoint. The titration must be run between pH 6.5 and 9.
• The Volhard method. In the Volhard method, a measured excess of silver nitrate precipitates the halide, and the remaining silver is back-titrated with standard thiocyanate using ferric alum indicator. The method works in acid solution and suits samples where the Mohr method's pH range is impractical.
• Light sensitivity. Silver nitrate solutions slowly darken in light as silver ions are reduced to metallic silver. Store the solution in the dark and restandardize it periodically against dried sodium chloride.
• Handling at a glance. Silver nitrate stains skin and surfaces black when it contacts organic material and can irritate eyes and skin. It is also harmful to aquatic life. Wear gloves and safety glasses, and collect silver waste for recovery or hazardous waste disposal.
• Accuracy at low concentration. The Mohr endpoint becomes less sharp as silver nitrate concentration falls, because a visible amount of silver chromate requires a small excess of titrant. Run an indicator blank and subtract it, or use potentiometric detection for the most accurate low-level results.
• Where it is used. Laboratories use 0.01 N silver nitrate to measure low-level chloride in drinking water, boiler feedwater, and high-purity process water; to detect trace halides in chemicals; and to teach argentometric titration at safer concentrations.

Technical Specifications

Applications / Common Uses

• Low-level chloride: Determines chloride in drinking and feedwater.
• High-purity water: Checks chloride in process and boiler water.
• Trace halides: Measures low halide levels in chemicals.
• Potentiometric titration: Supports silver electrode endpoint detection.
• Teaching labs: Demonstrates argentometry at lower concentrations.

Storage, Handling & Shipping

Store tightly closed at room temperature in a dark place, away from light, reducing agents, organic materials, ammonia, and halides. Light slowly reduces silver ions to metallic silver, so protect the solution from light and re-standardize periodically.

• Incompatible materials: Reducing agents, organic materials, ammonia and ammonium compounds, halides, and strong bases.
• Exposure limit (soluble silver, as Ag): NIOSH REL and OSHA PEL 0.01 mg/m³ TWA.
• Spill response: Absorb with inert material and collect for silver recovery or hazardous waste disposal.
• First aid: Eyes: rinse with water for several minutes. Skin: wash; dark stains fade as skin renews.

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