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Silver compounds

Silver carbonate , CAS 534-16-7

Ag2CO3MW 275.75 g/mol78.2% AgMade in Dublin, Ireland

Synonyms: Silver(I) carbonate; Disilver carbonate; Carbonic acid silver(I) salt; Ag2CO3

Also known as: Silbercarbonat (German); Carbonato de plata (Spanish); Carbonate d'argent (French); Carbonato d'argento (Italian); Zilvercarbonaat (Dutch)

GHS07
Harmful
GHS09
Environment

Overview

A pale yellow, light-sensitive silver(I) salt used as a mild base and halide scavenger in palladium catalysis, as the Koenigs–Knorr promoter, and, on Celite, as Fétizon's reagent for alcohol oxidation.

Silver carbonate is a pale yellow, light-sensitive powder used as a stoichiometric base and halide scavenger in palladium-catalysed C–H activation and cross-coupling, as the promoter in Koenigs–Knorr glycosylation, and, supported on Celite as Fétizon's reagent, for the selective oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. It is also a convenient precursor for silver catalysts and silver(I) complexes. Approximately 78% silver by mass; every lot is assayed and released with a certificate of analysis.

Application areas

Typical applications of silver carbonate

Silver carbonate is the most common silver additive in palladium-catalysed C–H activation and functionalisation. It is a weak, insoluble base that is compatible with sensitive functional groups, it abstracts halide from palladium(II) intermediates to open a coordination site, and in Fujiwara–Moritani olefinations and related Pd(II)/Pd(0) cycles it acts as the terminal oxidant that returns palladium(0) to palladium(II). Typical loadings are 1–2 equivalents relative to the substrate.

In carbohydrate chemistry it is the classical promoter of the Koenigs–Knorr glycosylation: the glycosyl bromide is activated by silver carbonate, with or without silver perchlorate or molecular sieves, to give the glycoside with high stereoselectivity. Precipitated onto Celite it becomes Fétizon's reagent, which oxidises primary and secondary alcohols selectively to aldehydes and ketones in refluxing benzene or toluene without over-oxidation and without touching most other functional groups.

Silver carbonate is also used to prepare silver carboxylates and other silver(I) salts by reaction with the corresponding acid (with evolution of carbon dioxide), as a halide scavenger to generate cationic rhodium, iridium and gold catalysts, and as a mild silver source in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and supported silver catalysts.

Specification

Product nameSilver carbonate
SynonymsSilver(I) carbonate; Disilver carbonate; Carbonic acid silver(I) salt; Ag2CO3
Molecular formulaAg2CO3
CAS number534-16-7
Molecular weight275.75 g/mol
MetalSilver (Ag)
Metal content78.2% Ag by mass (nominal; lot assay on the CoA)
Purity / grade≥99.9% (metals basis); Ag ≥ 77%
AppearancePale yellow to yellow-grey powder; darkens in light
SolubilityPractically insoluble in water (about 3 mg per 100 mL at 20 °C). Dissolves in dilute acids with evolution of carbon dioxide, in aqueous ammonia, and in alkali cyanide and thiosulfate solutions. Insoluble in ethanol.
Melting pointDoes not melt; loses carbon dioxide from about 220 °C to give silver oxide, which decomposes to silver at higher temperature.
Density6.08 g/cm³
Light sensitivityDarkens from pale yellow to grey-brown on exposure to light.
StorageStore tightly closed in a cool, dry place protected from light. Keep away from acids and reducing agents.
Pack sizes25 g, 100 g, 500 g
Country of originIreland (manufactured in Dublin)

Solubility, melting point and density are literature values for the pure compound and are given for guidance; purity, silver assay and appearance are measured on each lot and reported on its certificate of analysis.

Handling and storage

  • Irritating to skin, eyes and the respiratory tract (H315, H319, H335). Weigh and transfer the fine powder with dust control, goggles and gloves.
  • Protect from light: the colour change to grey or brown is metallic silver and silver oxide on the surface. Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place.
  • Reacts with acids to release carbon dioxide; keep away from acids in storage and add it to acidic reaction mixtures in portions.
  • Do not leave silver carbonate in contact with ammonia or ammonium salts: ammoniacal silver solutions form explosive silver nitride on standing.
  • Very toxic to aquatic life (H410). Filter cakes and silver residues should be collected for silver recovery.
  • Not regulated as dangerous goods in our pack sizes (UN3077, environmentally hazardous solid, falls within the ADR SP 375 / IATA A197 small-quantity exemption): ships by standard courier.

Hazard classification (CLP / GHS)

GHS07
Harmful
GHS09
Environment
Signal wordWarning
Hazard statements
  • H315 Causes skin irritation.
  • H319 Causes serious eye irritation.
  • H335 May cause respiratory irritation.
  • H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Precautionary statements
  • P264 Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
  • P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
  • P302+P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water.
  • P332+P313 If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
  • P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
  • P337+P313 If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
  • P261 Avoid breathing dust.
  • P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
  • P304+P340 IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
  • P312 Call a POISON CENTRE or doctor if you feel unwell.
  • P273 Avoid release to the environment.
  • P391 Collect spillage.
  • P501 Dispose of contents/container to an approved waste disposal plant.
TransportUN3077, Class 9, PG III. Our pack sizes fall within the small-quantity exemption (ADR SP 375 / IATA A197) and ship by standard courier without a dangerous-goods surcharge.

Classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). The safety data sheet issued with each lot is the authoritative source; where this page and the SDS differ, follow the SDS. For research and industrial use only. Not for human, veterinary, food or cosmetic use.

Documents

Safety data sheet (SDS)

The current SDS for Silver carbonate is supplied with every quotation and shipment. Request a copy.

Certificate of analysis (CoA)

Issued per lot with silver assay. Enter the lot number from your label.

Find a CoA

Frequently asked questions

What is Fétizon's reagent and how is it made?

Fétizon's reagent is silver carbonate precipitated onto Celite (diatomaceous earth) so that the oxidant presents a very large surface area. It is prepared by stirring Celite into aqueous silver nitrate, adding sodium carbonate solution to precipitate silver carbonate onto the support, filtering and drying in the dark; the usual loading is about 1 mmol of silver carbonate per gram of reagent. It is used in large excess in refluxing benzene or toluene and is removed by filtration, which makes work-up trivial.

Why is silver carbonate used as a base in C–H activation rather than potassium carbonate?

It does more than deprotonate. Silver(I) removes halide from the palladium centre as insoluble silver halide, which generates the cationic, more electrophilic palladium species that C–H activation requires, and in oxidative couplings silver(I) re-oxidises palladium(0) at the end of each cycle. Potassium carbonate can only provide the base function. The low solubility of silver carbonate also keeps the effective base concentration low, which protects base-sensitive substrates.

Why is the silver content specified as about 78% rather than 99.9%?

The two figures describe different things. Silver carbonate is 78.2% silver by mass when pure, because the rest of the formula weight is carbonate. The ≥99.9% figure is purity on a metals basis: of the metal present, at least 99.9% is silver. The certificate of analysis for each lot reports both the silver assay and the trace metals found.

Is silver carbonate classed as dangerous goods?

It is assigned UN3077 (environmentally hazardous substance, solid, Class 9), but in the pack sizes we sell it falls within the small-quantity exemption of ADR special provision 375 and IATA A197, so it ships by standard courier with no dangerous-goods surcharge.

Ordering, shipping and documentation
What is the CAS number of silver carbonate?

Silver carbonate has CAS Registry Number 534-16-7. Its formula is Ag2CO3 (275.75 g/mol) and it contains about 78.2% silver by mass.

How is silver carbonate priced?

Pack prices are linked to the live silver spot price: silver content × spot €/g, plus a fixed fee per pack for manufacture, packaging and the certificate of analysis. The price shown is indicative and confirmed on your quotation; it excludes VAT and shipping.

Is silver carbonate classed as dangerous goods for shipping?

No surcharge applies. Silver carbonate is UN3077 (class 9) but our pack sizes fall within the small-quantity exemption (ADR SP 375 / IATA A197), so it ships by standard courier.

Do you supply a certificate of analysis and SDS for silver carbonate?

Yes. Every lot ships with a lot-specific certificate of analysis including silver assay, and the current safety data sheet is available on this page and on request. Lot certificates can also be retrieved by lot number from our CoA lookup.

Where do you ship silver carbonate?

We ship from Dublin to Ireland (from €12.00) and to all EU member states (from €25.00), plus Northern Ireland. For research and industrial use only; business customers only.

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