Question

A student working in laboratory prepared an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and kept it in a glass beaker overnight. Next morning, he found that beaker has developed black turbidity. State the reason for this observation? What precaution should have been taken by the student?

Answer 1

A black turbidity is the formation of silver oxide and eventually metallic silver when silver nitrate undergoes decomposition as it is photosensitive.

Precautions to be taken:-

(1) Silver nitrate solution should be kept in dark bottles to protect from sunlight.

(2) Keep bottles in dark places.

(3) Keep bottles tightly packed to avoid any contact with air or moisture.