REACTIONS OF HALIDE IONS WITH SILVER NITRATE:

By: Nicolas Koll

Laboratory:
A. Equipment List/Materials:
2 x Large Pipette
20 mL of 𝐻2𝑂(𝑙)

20 mL of 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3(𝑎𝑞)

1 spatula
Halide Salts: 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙(𝑠), 𝑁𝑎𝐵𝑟(𝑠), 𝐾𝐼(𝑠 (1 spatula of each)

Lab Coat
3 test tubes
Safety goggles
Test tube rack
Tape
B. Method:
1. Create a table of observations on a blank piece of paper
2. Label three different test tubes, one test tube for each salt, and place them on a test tube
3. Place one spatula of each salt in the according labeled test tube (NaCl, NaBr, KI)
4. Write down observations of each salt, i.e. what it looks like
5. Add 1 large pipette full of water to each test tube
6. Shake the test tube ensuring that it is dissolved
7. Write down observations of each solution, i.e. color, temperature, etc.
8. Add 1 large pipette full of silver nitrate to each test tube
9. Shake gently, ensuring that they are mixed well
10. Write down observations, i.e. color, temperature, anything that stands out, etc
11. Place the test tube rack near a window, where it is exposed to sunlight
12. Let sit for 8 minutes, then write down observations, i.e. color, temperature, anything that
stands out, etc
 Results:
C. Table Of Observations:

Halide Appearance Of Appearance Of Reaction With Silver Appearance after Appearance after
Salt Salt Solution Nitrate exposure to sunlight exposure to sunlight
(𝐻2𝑂 + 𝐻𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑒) (7-8 min) (95 hours)

Sodium small, white, clear, colorless The mixture became a No noticeable change Supernatant
Chloride translucent solution, easy to bit more cloudy in color/temp of the transitioned into
crystals dissolve, no momentarily before supernatant. being completely
change in the white precipitate Precipitate turned clear, precipitate sank
temperature of silver chloride from white to a to the bottom, color
started to form. No grayish/light purplish transitioned into a
change in temperature color light pink

Sodium white crystalline Clear, colorless The mixture remained The supernatant This looked very
Bromide powder/granular, solution, clear and colorless transitioned slightly similar to the NaCl,
resembles NaCl, momentarily before into a very light however the
somewhat harder the white precipitate murky gray. The light precipitate
to dissolve, no of silver chloride yellow precipitate transitioned into a
change in started to form. No darkened slightly more pinkish yellow
temperature change in temperature making it more color
visible.

Potassium white/colorless Colorless solution The mixture initially The precipitate The supernatant
Iodide with a slight with a slight tint stayed colorless with changed the most, change from light
yellow tint, larger of yellow, hardest a tint of yellow, but transitioning from yellow to a brighter
crystals that NaCl to dissolve, no then quickly light yellow to pale yellow, same
change in transitioned into a brighter yellow, the goes for the
temperature deeper yellow as the supernatant remained precipitate where the
precipitate started to very light yellow darkened and
form. yellow/clear became more
pronounced

D. Balanced Equations:
Sodium Chloride:
Un-Balanced:
𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙(𝑠) + 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞)

Balanced:
𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙 (𝑠)
+ 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞)

Sodium Bromide
Un-Balanced:
 𝑁𝑎𝐵𝑟(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝐴𝑔𝐵𝑟 (𝑠)
+ 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞)

Balanced:
𝑁𝑎𝐵𝑟(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝐴𝑔𝐵𝑟 (𝑠)
+ 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞)

Potassium Iodide:
Un-Balanced:
𝐾𝐼(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝐴𝑔𝐼(𝑠) + 𝐾𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞)

Balanced:
𝐾𝐼(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐴𝑔𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝐴𝑔𝐼(𝑠) + 𝐾𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞)

Analysis:
E. What Is The Name For These Types Of Reactions?
The reactions involving halide salts reacting with silver nitrate are known as precipitation
reactions. This is stemmed from their characteristic formation of precipitates, a solid formed by a
change in a solution, often due to a chemical reaction (Glossary of Organic Chemistry).
Specifically, the reaction between the both reactants is known as a double replacement reaction,
a chemical reaction which occurs when two reactants exchange cations or anions to yield two
new products, in this case, a precipitate, that sinks to the bottom of the test tube and a supernate,
the liquid found above precipitate (Helmenstine).
F. What Did You Observe After The Samples Were Exposed To Sunlight?
In the reaction of sodium chloride with silver nitrate, the initially clear/colorless solution
formed a white precipitate of silver chloride (AgCl). Upon exposure to sunlight, this precipitate
changed slightly, turning from white to a light grayish/purplish color. For the sodium bromide
and silver nitrate solution, the reaction yielded a very pale yellow precipitate of silver bromide
(AgBr), which, when exposed to sunlight, darkened slightly, transitioning to a deeper yellow
with a tint of brown. In the case of potassium iodide reacting with silver nitrate, the clear
solutions initially form a bright yellow silver iodide (AgI) precipitate. This precipitate undergoes
a significant change under sunlight, darkening from bright yellow to a deeper yellow or brown,
showcasing a more dramatic transformation compared to the sodium chloride reaction.
G. Why Did This Happen? Explain The Chemistry
These changes were due to the photodecomposition of the silver halide precipitates.
Silver halides are photosensitive; they break down when exposed to light, this principle is
utilized in photographic processes. After exposure to sunlight, energy from the light is absorbed
by the silver halide, causing the halide ions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻) to release an electron, which is then
gained by the silver ion (Ag⁺), reducing it to metallic silver (Ag). This process results in the
formation of silver within the precipitate, altering its color: AgCl turns from white to light gray/
purplish, AgBr changes from very pale yellow to slightly darker yellow, and AgI changes from
yellow to a deeper yellow. The photodecomposition varies among the different silver halides due
to their varying sensitivity to light; AgI is the most sensitive, therefore experiencing the greatest
change, followed by AgBr, and then AgCl, which explains the different amounts of color change
observed in these experiments after sunlight exposure.

H. Give An Example Of The Use Of These Products

The products which were formed from these reactions are the following:
Precipitates: 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙(𝑠), 𝐴𝑔𝐵𝑟(𝑠), 𝐴𝑔𝐼(𝑠)

Supernates: 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞), 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞), 𝐾𝑁𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞)

The silver halide precipitates are commonly used for photographic film/photographic paper, including
graphic art film and paper, where silver halide’s crystals are coated onto a film base, glass or paper
substrate. Silver halides are used in photography because they are photosensitive as they react with light
to form the image. Whereas, the supernatant, 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3 (𝑠)(in solid form, not liquid) is used as a food

additive since it acts as a preservative. Along with 𝐾𝑁𝑂3 (𝑠), which is used as a food preservative, but

also as a fertilizer, rocket propellant, and for fireworks.

Works Cited

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “Double Replacement Reaction Definition - Chemistry.” ThoughtCo,

28 November 2022,

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-double-replacement-reaction-605046. Accessed

4 March 2024.

“Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry - Precipitate.” UCLA – Chemistry and Biochemistry,

https://www.chem.ucla.edu/~harding/IGOC/P/precipitate.html. Accessed 4 March 2024.

“Potassium Nitrate | KNO3 | CID 24434.” PubChem,

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Potassium-Nitrate. Accessed 4 March 2024.

“Silver halides are used in photography because they are -PhotosensitiveSoluble in hypo

solutionSoluble in NH_4OHInsoluble in acids.” Toppr, 9 January 2020,

https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/silver-halides-are-used-in-photography-because-they

-are/. Accessed 4 March 2024.

“Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3) - Structure, Preparation, Properties & Uses of Sodium Nitrate.”

BYJU'S, https://byjus.com/chemistry/sodium-nitrate-nano3/. Accessed 4 March 2024.