Silver Hydroxide

Silver hydroxide (AgOH) is an inorganic compound composed of one silver ion and one hydroxide ion. It is a white or pale yellow solid that is sparingly soluble in water.

The chemical formula for silver hydroxide is AgOH, and its molar mass is 123.87 g/mol. It can be synthesized by mixing a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) with a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The resulting precipitate is then washed and dried to obtain the solid silver hydroxide.

Silver hydroxide is a weak base and can dissociate slightly in water to produce silver ions (Ag+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). This means that it can react with acids to form salts and water. For example, when silver hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl), it forms silver chloride (AgCl) and water (H2O):

AgOH + HCl → AgCl + H2O

Silver hydroxide is also known to decompose into silver oxide (Ag2O) and water (H2O) at high temperatures:

2AgOH → Ag2O + H2O

Silver hydroxide has some important applications in the field of analytical chemistry. It is used as a reagent for the detection of carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide in the air. In addition, it is sometimes used as a catalyst in organic synthesis reactions. However, due to its low solubility and instability, it is not commonly used in industrial processes.