What Are The Physical Properties Of Silver Selenide?

Silver selenide (Ag2Se) is a chemical compound composed of silver and selenium. It appears as a dark grey or black solid with a cubic crystal structure. The physical properties of silver selenide include:

1. Melting point: The melting point of silver selenide is 1064°C, which is relatively high compared to many other compounds.

2. Density: The density of silver selenide is 7.01 g/cm³, which is higher than most non-metallic solids.

3. Hardness: Silver selenide has a relatively high hardness of 2.5-3 on the Mohs scale.

4. Electrical conductivity: Silver selenide is a semiconductor material that exhibits electrical conductivity when exposed to light.

5. Optical properties: Silver selenide is highly opaque to visible light and has a wide bandgap in the range of 1.0-1.5 eV. This makes it useful for infrared applications, such as optical filters and lenses.

6. Thermal conductivity: Silver selenide has a low thermal conductivity, which makes it suitable for use as a thermoelectric material.

7. Solubility: Silver selenide has limited solubility in water but is soluble in some acids such as nitric acid.

Overall, silver selenide possesses a unique combination of physical properties that make it useful in a variety of scientific and technological applications, including solar cells, thermoelectrics, and infrared detectors.