8521. Silver Oxide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 20667-12-3
Argentous oxide.
Ag2O; mol wt 231.74.
Ag 93.09%, O 6.90%.

Description and references

Prepd by making sol silver salt solns alkaline: Madsen, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 79, 197 (1913). Toxicity study: H. F. Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 30, 470 (1969).

Properties

Brownish-black, heavy, odorless powder. d425 7.22. Begins to dec at about 200° and at 250-300° decompn is rapid; it also breaks up into its constituents in sunlight. Reduced by hydogen, carbon monoxide and most metals. Moist silver oxide absorbs carbon dioxide. Sol in 40,000 parts water; freely sol in dil nitric acid, in ammonia; somewhat sol in NaOH solns. Practically insol in alcohol. Protect from light. LD50 orally in rats: 2.82 g/kg (Smyth).

Use

As catalyst; in the purification of drinking water; in the glass industry (polishing, coloring glass yellow).

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Has been used as germicide and parasiticide.