Silver hydroxide is an insoluble ionic compound, composed of silver, oxygen and hydrogen. The chemical formula is AgOH. Elemental silver (Ag) is a transition metal, that will ionize to form a cation with an oxidation state of positive one. Silver hydroxide is a pale brown solid, and will form spontaneously when silver cations are in the presence of another soluble salt containing hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide.
Things You'll Need
silver nitrate solution, 0.1 molar
sodium hydroxide solution, 0.1 molar
2 glass test tubes
2 plastic Pasteur pipettes
10 milliliter graduated cylinder
Show More
Instructions
Double Displacement Reaction
1
Make sure all glassware is clean.
Clean all glassware with soap, and then rinse with deionized water. Using deionized water will remove other ions from the glassware that may otherwise react with your reactants.
2
A small volume graduated cylinder is used to measure the reactants.
Use the graduated cylinder to measure one milliliter of the 0.1 molar silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution. Add the silver nitrate to the clean glass test tube.
3
Clean test tubes are used to mix the reactants.
Use the graduated cylinder to measure one milliliter of the 0.1 molar sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Add the sodium hydroxide to the other clean glass test tube.
4
Add the reactants in drops, using a small pipette.
Use the plastic Pasteur pipette to add the sodium hydroxide solution to the silver nitrate solution, drop by drop. Count how many drops you add until you see a pale brown precipitate form. This is silver hydroxide (AgOH).
5
These diluted ionic compounds are safely disposed of down the sink.
Dispose of waste materials. Pour remaining diluted sodium hydroxide and silver nitrate down the drain, followed by copious amounts of water.