What is Silver Chloride?
This is an important inorganic material that is highly suitable for the photographic applications. The chemical formula for the compound is simple and it could be written as the AgCl with a molecular weight of 143.32 g/mol.
Silver Chloride Structure
This is an ionic compound where one silver atom is connected with the chloride ion. In the solid state, the product takes a crystalline structure and looks very much similar to the sodium chloride. Here, one silver atom is connected with six chloride atoms and making an octahedral geometry ahead.
Silver Chloride Chemical Formula
The natural occurrence of the chemical compound can be felt in minerals. However, chemical synthesis is the most suitable process to obtain the AgCl. The product can be prepared for industrial grade by a simple reaction of silver nitrate with sodium chloride to form the final product i.e. silver chloride and the sodium nitrate.
AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3Silver Chloride Molecular
If we look at the physical properties of the chemical compound then it is white crystalline solid with a density of 5.56 g/mL, a melting point of 455 °C and a boiling point of 1,547 °C. This is an ionic compound still not soluble in water. If we look at the chemical properties then it is a dilute acid, soluble in ammonia and other concentrated acid but not soluble in water.
About Silver Chloride
On continuous heating, it decomposes to the solver and the elemental chlorine. This is important for photographic applications too and other antimicrobial products like water treatment, antidots and more.