SILVER

EXTRACTION OF SILVER BY CYANIDE PROCESS 1. CRUSHING AND

PULVERIZATION
Big lumps of ores are crushed using jaw crushers to get crushed ore which is pulverized using a pulveriser
or stamp mill to get powdered ore.

2. CONCENTRATION BY FROTH FLOATATION PROCESS

The powdered ore is taken in a tank containing water and a small amount of pine oil. The mixture is
heated by a blast of air. Impurities are wetted by water and get collected at the bottom of the tank. Ore
particles are wetted by oil and come to the surface as froth. The froth is skimmed off to collect
concentrated ore.

( )

g: Froth floatation process

3. CYANIDE TREATMENT
The concentrated ore is mixed with sodium cyanide solution using a current of air. Then the solution of
sodium argentocyanide is formed.

Ag2S + 4NaCN → 2Na[Ag(CN)2] + Na2S

Sodium
argentocyanide

The reaction is reversible. The air blown oxidizes sodium sulphide to sodium sulphate and drives this
reaction to forward direction.

Na2S + 2O2→ Na2SO4

If the ore is horn silver, the following reaction occurs:

AgCl + 2NaCN → Na[Ag(CN)2] + NaCl

4. PRECIPITATION OF SILVER
The solution obtained above is filtrated and the filtrate is treated with zinc where Ag is precipitated in the
dark amorphous powder.

2Na[Ag(CN)2]+ Zn → 2Ag + Na2[Zn(CN)4]

This silver is separated by filtration and fused with borax or KNO 3 to get a compact mass of silver known
as spongy silver.

5. PURIFICATION
Silver thus obtained is puri ed by electrolytic refining. Impure silver is made anode and pure silver is
made cathode. Acidified AgNO3 solution is used as an electrolyte. On electrolysis, silver deposits from the
anode and gets collected in the cathode.

At anode : Ag → Ag+ + e−

At cathode : Ag+ + e− → Ag
Pure

Fig: Electrolytic cell for puri cation of silver

USES OF SILVER
To prepare coins and ornaments.

In photography and electrical purpose.

To prepare electrode and alloy.

COMPOUNDS OF SILVER A. LUNAR CAUSTIC OR SILVER NITRATE:

AGNO3 PREPARATION
i. By the action of nitric acid on silver:

Ag + HNO3 → AgNO3+ H2O + NO2

conc.

Ag + HNO3 → AgNO3+ H2O + NO

dil.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
It is a white crystalline solid.

It is soluble in water and alcohol

# Chemical properties
i. Action of heat:
450°C
 2AgNO3 2AgNO2+ O2
above 450°C
2AgNO3 2Ag + 2NO2+ O2

ii. Decomposition by organic matter: If silver nitrate comes in contact with the skin in presence of
sunlight, a permanent black stain is formed on the skin. This property has been used in the
preparation of indelible (that cannot be removed) ink which is used during elections for marking the
voters who have cast the vote.

AgNO3 light 2Ag + 2NO2+ O2nail or

skin

iii. Action with NaOH:

2AgNO3+ 2NaOH → Ag2O + 2NaNO3+ H2O

iv. Action with NH4OH:

2AgNO3+ NH4OH → 2[Ag(NH3)2]NO3 + 3H2O

Diamine silver nitrate

AgNO3+ KCN → AgCN + KNO3

AgCN + KCN → K[Ag(CN)2]
excess
potassium argentocyanide

v. Displacement reaction:

Cu + AgNO3→ Cu(NO3)2+ 2Ag

AgNO3+ Cl− → AgCl(white ppt.) + NO3−AgNO3+ Br− →

AgBr(pale yellow ppt.) + NO3−
AgNO3+ I−→ AgI(pale yellow ppt.) + NO3−
2AgNO3+ SO4−− → Ag2SO4(white ppt.) + 2NO3−
2AgNO3+ S−− → Ag2S(black ppt.) + 2NO3−

USES
In silvering of mirror.

To prepare indelible ink.

In photography.

To prepare Tollen’s reagent: [Ag(NH3)2]OH

B. HORN SILVER OR SILVER CHLORIDE: AGCL

Preparation
By the action of sodium chloride and silver nitrate.
 NaCl + AgNO3→ AgCl + NaNO2

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HORN SILVER

It is white solid.

It is insoluble in water.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF HORN SILVER

AgCl + 2NH4OH → [Ag(NH3)2Cl] + 2H2O

i. Action with KCN:

AgCl + 2KCN → K[Ag(CN)2] + KCl

ii. Action with sodium thiosulphate: AgCl + 2Na2S2O3→ Na3[ Ag(S2O3)2] + NaCl

USES
In photography.

FROSTED SILVER
The ornaments and articles of silver usually contain copper from 6-7%. To give a pure white appearance
to the article, these are heated in the air so that the copper near the surface is
oxidized while silver remains as such. The oxide formed on the surface is dissolved in dilute H 2SO4 and a
layer of pure silver is left on the surface. This process is called frosting of silver and silver obtained is
called frosted silver.

PURITY OF GOLD
Pure gold is very soft and cannot be used for making jewellery. So, it is generally alloyed with silver or
copper to make it harder and modify its colour. The purity of gold in jewellery is expressed in carat. It
implies the number of parts by weight of gold in 24 parts by weight of the alloy. Pure gold is 24 carat. 18
carat gold means it contains 18 parts by weight of pure gold in 24 parts by weight of the alloy. Most of
the jewellery is made up of 22 carat gold.