MCQ Detailed View

The correct formula of Silver nitrate is AgNO₃. It is an inorganic salt composed of silver (Ag⁺) ions and nitrate (NO₃⁻) ions. This compound is highly soluble in water and forms a colorless crystalline solid. Silver nitrate is one of the most important laboratory reagents in analytical chemistry because of its ability to react with halide ions.

When silver nitrate reacts with halides such as chloride, bromide, and iodide, it produces insoluble silver halide precipitates. For example, AgCl is white, AgBr is pale yellow, and AgI is yellow. This makes AgNO₃ a reliable reagent for detecting and determining halides in qualitative analysis.

Silver nitrate is also known as Lunar Caustic, a traditional name derived from its historical use and association of silver with the moon. It has caustic properties, meaning it can burn or cauterize organic tissue, which is why it was once used in medicine to treat warts and ulcers.

Looking at the other options:

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  AgNO is incorrect because silver does not combine with a single oxygen atom in this way.

  
  


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  AgNO₂ refers to silver nitrite, which is a different compound.

  
  


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  AgNO₄ is not a stable compound.

  
  

Therefore, the only correct and widely recognized formula for silver nitrate is AgNO₃.

In addition to halide testing, silver nitrate has applications in photography, mirror making, electroplating, and even in medicine as an antiseptic. Its versatility and strong reactivity make it an essential chemical in both laboratory and industrial chemistry.