Silver Refining Process Guide
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ScribdTranslationsSilver Refining Process Guide
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsSILVER REFINING
The objective of this process is to refine impure silver to convert it into 0.999 silver. It is very
It is important to follow safety measures since the use of nitric acid implies the
emission of brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide that are toxic and corrosive, due to
It should be done in a well-ventilated place. Likewise, safety measures must be observed.
safety for the handling of corrosive acids.
MATERIALS
500 g of impure silver
1250 ml of concentrated nitric acid
1250 ml of water
600 gr. of common table salt
1000 g of sodium hydroxide in flakes
600 g of sugar
200 ml of hydrochloric acid
3 5 liter containers
3 Plastic stirring bars
1 Piece of flannel
1 Strainer
1 Fan
1 Plastic gloves
1 Protective lenses
1 Protective mask against acid gases
PROCEDURE
The impure silver is placed in one of the 5-liter containers, 1250 ml of water is added.
And little by little, with great care and using all the protective equipment, 1250 are added.
ml of nitric acid, the fan is placed near the mouth of the container to draw it in
the brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide that will be observed start to be produced. It is left
let the reaction take place for an hour, until the formation of is no longer noticeable
brown humus. The solution is allowed to decant and then filtered very carefully.
solution and is transferred to another 5-liter container. It is very important that nothing passes through
solid, otherwise the resulting silver will become contaminated.
600 grams of table salt are gradually added to the filtered solution, it will be observed that
empieza a formarse un precipitado granuloso blanco que es cloruro de plata,agregar la sal
until no more white precipitate forms. Next, it is allowed to settle and is discarded.
the liquid, rinsing the white precipitate several times. It starts to be added gradually.
sodium hydroxide in flakes, stirring continuously until the precipitate changes to
black color, this precipitate is silver oxide.
Next, sugar is added to the black precipitate while continuously stirring.
And without stopping to stir, it will be observed that the solution begins to boil, this is a process of
reduction that will produce a grayish-green precipitate that is pure silver. It is left to settle,
discard the liquid and rinse twice with water, then add 200 ml of acid
Hydrochloric acid is stirred and rinsed until the water runs completely clear. Finally, it is filtered.
the precipitate placing the cloth over the strainer and pouring the precipitate over the
a cloth is shaped into a cake, squeezed, left to dry, and then melted
obtaining pure silver with a grade of 0.999.
Any questions should be directed to Juan Manuel Arcos Frank at the following emails:
jmropero22@[Link]
jmropero@[Link]
