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Silver nitrate (AgNO₃) is an inorganic salt that has been historically known as Lunar Caustic. The term “lunar” is derived from the Latin word luna, meaning moon, because silver was traditionally associated with the moon due to its shiny, whitish appearance. The term “caustic” refers to its strong corrosive action on organic tissues.
When applied to skin, silver nitrate reacts with proteins and organic matter, leaving black stains due to the reduction of silver ions into metallic silver under the influence of light. This property made it useful in early medical treatments as a cauterizing agent to remove warts, ulcers, and unwanted tissue growth. Even today, dilute silver nitrate sticks are sometimes used in dermatology for this purpose.
In chemistry, silver nitrate is an important analytical reagent, especially for the detection of halide ions (chloride, bromide, iodide). It reacts with halides to form insoluble silver halide precipitates: AgCl (white), AgBr (pale yellow), and AgI (yellow). This reaction is a fundamental part of qualitative analysis in laboratories.
It should not be confused with other common salts known by traditional names:
Blue Vitriol is copper sulfate (CuSO₄·5H₂O).
Green Vitriol is ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄·7H₂O).
White Vitriol is zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O).
Thus, among common names, Lunar Caustic uniquely refers to silver nitrate (AgNO₃). Its dual importance in chemistry and medicine makes it one of the most recognized silver compounds.
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