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Tests for Silver in Solution

Silver is entirely soluble in diluted nitric and ounce sesquicarbonate of ammonia, acid. This solution, treated with an excess until carbonic acid ceases to be evolved; then of muriate of soda, gives a white precipitate drying the product, wrapped in bibulous paper, entirely soluble in ammonia water, and a fluid in the air. which is not affected by sulphuretted hydrogen. The nitric solution of silver also gives a white curdy precipitate (chloride of silver) with muriatic acid, soluble in ammonia and insoluble in nitric acid, and blackened by exposure to light. It gives white precipitates known as black oxide of copper-may be with solutions of the alkaline carbonates, oxa- formed by calcining metallic copper, nitrate lates, and prussiates. It gives yellow preci- of copper, or the hydrate, thrown down from pitates with the alkaline arsenites and phos- solutions of the salts of copper by means of phates. With the arseniates, red precipitates. pure potassa. This preparation was formerly With the fixed alkalies, brown precipitates. called the deutoxide of copper. It is not With sulphuretted hydrogen, a black powder. changed by heat, but readily gives out its With phosphorus and metallic copper or zinc, oxygen when heated with combustible mata precipitate consisting of pure silver. ter; hence its general use in organic analysis for supplying oxygen. It communicates a beautiful green color to glass and enamels.