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Silver carbonate, having the chemical formula Ag2CO3, is an unstable chemical compound. Fetizon's reagent is made up of silver carbonate on celite. It is made by precipitating a silver nitrate solution with an alkaline carbonate. It is white in colour and turns yellow when the soluble salts are rinsed away. It is light-sensitive, and when exposed to light, it changes colour. Silver carbonate is primarily used in the manufacturing of silver powder for use in microelectronics. It is reduced with formaldehyde to yield silver that is devoid of alkali metals:
What is Silver Carbonate?
Silver carbonate is a highly reactive and unstable compound with the chemical formula Ag2CO3. Because Fetizon's reagent is silver carbonate combined with celite, it is frequently mentioned when it comes to silver carbonate.
Silver Carbonate
When an alkaline carbonate is used to precipitate a silver nitrate solution, a white mass develops, which when washed turns yellow as the soluble salts separate. Silver carbonate, or Ag2CO3, is the product you will receive. Another distinguishing feature of Ag2CO3 is its sensitivity to light. It changes colour when exposed to photochromic light. The synthesis of silver carbonate is as follows.
2Ag + 2CO2 + H2O = Ag2CO3 + CH2O
In organic synthesis, such as the Koenigs-Knorr reaction, silver carbonate is utilised as a reagent. Silver carbonate on celite is used as an oxidising agent in the Fétizon oxidation to generate lactones from diols. It is also used to make alcohol from alkyl bromides. It has been employed as a base in the Wittig reaction as well as in the activation of C-H bonds.
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Structure of Silver Carbonate
Silver carbonate is a highly unstable substance. To achieve stability, the atoms organise themselves as seen below. The bonds that form in this molecule are caused by a number of factors, the most important of which is the molecular mass of silver carbonate.
Structure of Silver Carbonate
Properties Of Silver Carbonate
The properties of silver carbonate are tabulated below
| IUPAC Name | Disilver Carbonate |
|---|---|
| Density | 6.08 g/cm³ |
| Molecular Weight/ Molar Mass | 275.7453 g/mol |
| Boiling Point | 553.2 °C |
| Melting Point | 218 °C |
| Chemical Formula | Ag2CO3 |
Physical Properties of Silver Carbonate
- Silver carbonate has no odour.
- It takes the form of pale golden crystals.
- The chemical has a hydrogen bond acceptor value of 3.
- It is very sparingly soluble in water when it comes to solubility.
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Chemical Properties of Silver Carbonate
Silver carbonate molecule, like most other carbonates, decomposes, meaning it breaks down into simpler constituent reagents. Silver, carbon dioxide, and oxygen are obtained in the case of silver carbonate. Because silver has the largest molecular weight of the three, it is formed in large quantities.
Ag2CO3 → Ag2O + CO2
2Ag2O → 4Ag + O2
In nitric acid, silver carbonate dissolves to generate silver nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water.
Ag2CO3 + HNO3 → AgNO3 + H2O + CO2
Uses of Silver Carbonate
- Fetizon's reagent is made by putting silver carbonate on celite. After that, this reagent is used to oxidise primary and secondary alcohols, yielding aldehydes and ketones, respectively.
Fetizon Reagent
- It is used as a reagent in the Koenig-Knorr reaction, which is a vital step in organic synthesis.
- It is used as a base in the Wittig reaction.
- It is required in numerous organic transformations, such as the conversion of alkyl bromides to alcohol, because of its strong alkynophilicity and basicity.
- Silver carbonate is significant in the electronics sector because it produces silver, which is used in chips and microprocessors.
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Things to remember
- When silver carbonate combines with ammonia, it forms fulminating silver, a highly reactive substance.
- Despite the fact that silver carbonate is meant to be yellow in hue, lab samples usually seem grey. Silver is present abundant in these samples.
- In microelectronics, silver carbonate is essential. It aids in the production of silver powder, which is widely utilised in the semiconductor sector.
- Because of its superior alkynophilicity and basicity, silver carbonate is an excellent catalyst for a variety of organic processes.
- Although silver carbonate on celite is neutral, it forms an extremely active reagent in reactions.
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Sample Questions
Ques. What happens when we heat silver carbonate? (2 marks)
Ans. In contrast to other metal carbonates, which disintegrate into metal oxides and release carbon dioxide, silver carbonate decomposes into elemental silver and releases a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen gas when heated.
Ques. Is silver carbonate classified as a salt? (2 marks)
Ans. A carbonate salt is silver carbonate. With the evolution of carbon dioxide, it is degraded by acids.
Ques. What is the appearance of silver carbonate? (2 marks)
Ans. Silver carbonate has no odour. It takes the form of pale golden crystals. The chemical has a hydrogen bond acceptor value of 3. It is very sparingly soluble in water when it comes to solubility.
Ques. What is the solubility of silver carbonate? (2 marks)
Ans. Because you can only dissolve a very small amount of silver carbonate, Ag2CO3, in 1 L of water at normal temperature, it's considered insoluble in water. At 25°C, silver carbonate has a solubility of 0.032 g L1.
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Ques. Is Ag2CO3 considered a base? (2 marks)
Ans. Silver carbonate (Ag2CO3) is a Lewis acid, an inorganic base, and an excellent oxidant that can be used in a variety of chemical processes.
Ques. What Is Silver Carbonate Used For? (3 marks)
Ans: Silver carbonate, often known as Ag2CO3, has a variety of applications. It is a necessary component and reagent in a variety of chemical processes. Organic chemistry is one of its most important applications. We've seen it work as a base, reagent, and reagent component. We get the following points when we list the compound's most important uses:
Fetizon's reagent is made up of silver carbonate and celite, and it's used in a variety of processes.
It's used as a base in the Wittig reaction, which is an important result in organic chemistry.
It's a key component of the Koenig-Knorr reaction, a crucial step in organic chemistry.
Silver carbonate is a substance that can be converted into silver.
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Ques. What are the chemical properties of Silver Carbonate? (3 marks)
Ans. Silver carbonate molecule, like most other carbonates, decomposes, meaning it breaks down into simpler constituent reagents. Silver, carbon dioxide, and oxygen are obtained in the case of silver carbonate. Because silver has the largest molecular weight of the three, it is formed in large quantities.
Ag2CO3 → Ag2O + CO2
2Ag2O → 4Ag + O2
In nitric acid, silver carbonate dissolves to generate silver nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water.
Ag2CO3 + HNO3 → AgNO3 + H2O + CO2
Ques. List out the physical properties of Silver Carbonate? (2 marks)
Ans.
- Silver carbonate has no odour.
- It takes the form of pale golden crystals.
- The chemical has a hydrogen bond acceptor value of 3.
- It is very sparingly soluble in water when it comes to solubility.
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Ques. What does the potassium dichromate test for? (2 marks)
Ans. For organic chemistry, potassium dichromate is an oxidizing agent that is milder than potassium permanganate. It is used for the oxidation of alcohol. This converts primary alcohols into aldehydes and carboxylic acids under more pressing conditions.
Ques. Is potassium dichromate light-sensitive? (2 marks)
Ans. Clear, light-sensitive orange crystals. Potassium dichromate is used in cotton dyeing as chromium mordant. In black and white image processing, potassium dichromate is used as an intensifier.
Ques. What is the charge of potassium dichromate? (2 marks)
Ans. K2Cr2O7 is the molecular formula. A reddish-brown colour as a solid and a molecular weight of 294.18 grams per mole is the physical properties of potassium dichromate. Potassium dichromate is also referred to as a compound of hexavalent chromium, and chromium oxidation is 6+.
Ques. Why do transition elements show variable oxidation states? (CBSE 2014) (2 marks)
Ans. The variability of the oxidation state of transition elements is due to incompletely filled d-orbitals and the presence of unpaired electrons, i.e. (ns) and (n -1) d electrons have approximately equal energies.
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