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Silver compounds

Silver sulfate , CAS 10294-26-5

Ag2SO4MW 311.8 g/mol69.2% AgMade in Dublin, Ireland

Synonyms: Silver sulphate; Silver(I) sulfate; Disilver sulfate; Sulfuric acid silver(I) salt; Ag2SO4

Also known as: Silbersulfat (German); Sulfato de plata (Spanish); Sulfate d'argent (French); Solfato d'argento (Italian); Zilversulfaat (Dutch)

GHS05
Corrosive
GHS09
Environment

Overview

The silver salt of analytical chemistry: the catalyst in dichromate chemical-oxygen-demand digestions, the reagent for precipitating interfering chloride, and a non-oxidising silver source for plating and synthesis.

Silver sulfate is a white, light-sensitive crystalline solid used chiefly in analytical chemistry, as the catalyst in dichromate chemical oxygen demand (COD) determinations and to precipitate interfering chloride, and as a silver source for cyanide-free silver plating baths and for halide abstraction in synthesis. Approximately 69.2% silver by mass; each lot is assayed and ships with a certificate of analysis.

Application areas

Typical applications of silver sulfate

Silver sulfate is best known as the catalyst in the dichromate chemical oxygen demand (COD) test used throughout wastewater analysis (ISO 6060, APHA Standard Methods 5220, EPA 410.4). Silver(I) catalyses the oxidation of straight-chain aliphatic compounds that dichromate alone attacks slowly, and the standard digestion reagent is a solution of silver sulfate in concentrated sulfuric acid. Silver sulfate is also added to remove chloride, which would otherwise be oxidised to chlorine and give a high result, by precipitating it as silver chloride.

In the plating industry silver sulfate is a silver source for cyanide-free silver electrolytes and for immersion and electroless silvering, and it is used to charge sulfate-based silver baths. In synthesis it serves as a silver(I) source where a non-oxidising, non-coordinating counter-ion is wanted: for halide abstraction, for the preparation of silver-exchanged zeolites and supported silver catalysts, and for metathesis reactions that give other silver salts.

Its low solubility and lack of water of crystallisation make silver sulfate a stable, weighable silver standard, and it is used to prepare silver reference solutions and silver-doped materials where chloride and nitrate must be absent.

Specification

Product nameSilver sulfate
SynonymsSilver sulphate; Silver(I) sulfate; Disilver sulfate; Sulfuric acid silver(I) salt; Ag2SO4
Molecular formulaAg2SO4
CAS number10294-26-5
Molecular weight311.8 g/mol
MetalSilver (Ag)
Metal content69.2% Ag by mass (nominal; lot assay on the CoA)
Purity / grade≥99.9% (metals basis), ACS reagent grade; Ag ≥ 68.5%
AppearanceWhite to off-white crystalline powder; greys slowly in light
SolubilitySlightly soluble in water: about 0.8 g per 100 mL at 25 °C and 1.4 g per 100 mL at 100 °C. Soluble in nitric acid, in concentrated sulfuric acid and in aqueous ammonia; insoluble in ethanol.
Melting point652 °C; decomposes above about 1085 °C.
Density5.45 g/cm³
Light sensitivitySlowly greys on exposure to light.
StorageStore tightly closed in a cool, dry place protected from light.
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

  • Causes serious eye damage (H318). Wear goggles when handling the powder or its solutions in acid.
  • Dissolution in concentrated sulfuric acid for COD reagent is slow (allow one to two days) and the acid is corrosive; prepare the reagent in a fume hood with full protective equipment.
  • Keep protected from light and tightly closed. The grey tint that develops on exposure to light is metallic silver on the surface.
  • Avoid contact with ammonia solutions on standing (silver nitride risk) and with reducing agents.
  • Very toxic to aquatic life (H410). Spent COD digests contain silver, chromium and mercury and must go to licensed hazardous-waste disposal; never to drain.
  • Not regulated as dangerous goods in our pack sizes (UN3077 small-quantity exemption, ADR SP 375 / IATA A197): ships by standard courier.

Hazard classification (CLP / GHS)

GHS05
Corrosive
GHS09
Environment
Signal wordDanger
Hazard statements
  • H318 Causes serious eye damage.
  • H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Precautionary statements
  • P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
  • P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
  • P310 Immediately call a POISON CENTRE or doctor.
  • 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 sulfate 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

How much silver sulfate do I need for COD digestion reagent?

APHA Standard Methods 5220 specifies 5.5 g of silver sulfate per kilogram of concentrated sulfuric acid (about 10 g per litre of acid). Add the silver sulfate to the acid and allow one to two days for it to dissolve completely, with occasional swirling, before use. ISO 6060 uses a comparable silver sulfate–sulfuric acid reagent; follow the concentration stated in the method you are accredited for.

Why is silver sulfate preferred over silver nitrate for COD and for plating?

Nitrate is itself an oxidant and would interfere with the dichromate measurement, whereas sulfate is inert in the digestion and is the anion already present from the sulfuric acid. In plating, sulfate-based electrolytes avoid both cyanide and the oxidising nitrate ion, so silver sulfate is the natural silver source for cyanide-free sulfate baths.

How soluble is silver sulfate?

Only slightly: about 0.8 g per 100 mL of water at room temperature, rising to around 1.4 g per 100 mL at boiling. It dissolves readily in dilute nitric acid, in concentrated sulfuric acid and in aqueous ammonia. Saturated aqueous solutions are therefore about 25 mM in silver.

What is the silver content and how is purity expressed?

Pure silver sulfate (311.80 g/mol) is 69.2% silver by mass; our release specification is a minimum of 68.5% silver. Purity on a metals basis is ≥99.9%, meaning that silver accounts for at least 99.9% of the metals detected, and the material meets ACS reagent limits for chloride, nitrate and heavy metals. The certificate of analysis for each lot reports the assay and trace metals found.

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

Silver sulfate has CAS Registry Number 10294-26-5. Its formula is Ag2SO4 (311.8 g/mol) and it contains about 69.2% silver by mass.

How is silver sulfate 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 sulfate classed as dangerous goods for shipping?

No surcharge applies. Silver sulfate 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 sulfate?

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 sulfate?

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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