What Are The Properties Of Silver Sulfate?
Silver sulfate (Ag2SO4) is a white crystalline solid with a molecular weight of 311.8 g/mol. It has several properties, including:
1. Solubility: Silver sulfate is sparingly soluble in water, meaning it dissolves only to a limited extent. The solubility of silver sulfate increases as the temperature increases.
2. Stability: Silver sulfate is stable under normal conditions but may decompose at high temperatures (>400°C) to produce silver oxide and sulfur trioxide.
3. Density: The density of silver sulfate is 5.45 g/cm³.
4. Reactivity: Silver sulfate is a strong oxidizing agent and reacts violently with reducing agents such as metals, organic compounds, and hydrogen sulfide.
5. Crystal Structure: Silver sulfate has a rhombic crystal structure.
6. Conductivity: Silver sulfate is a poor conductor of electricity, unlike other silver compounds like silver nitrate.
7. Uses: Silver sulfate is primarily used in analytical chemistry, photography, and the production of other silver compounds. It is also sometimes used as a catalyst in chemical reactions.
Overall, silver sulfate has unique properties that make it useful for various applications in industry and research.