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Science Fair Help - Silver Nitrate

utbrowningmanutbrowningman Member Posts: 2,772 ✭✭✭
edited January 2011 in General Discussion
My 3rd grade son wants to grow crystals for his science fair project. We plan on growing sugar, alum and silver crystals. The sugar and alum is easy to come by. Where/how do I get a small amount of 0.1M silver nitrate? Hoping someone here has some ideas as to what stores may carry such an item. I have no idea what it is commonly used for.
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Comments

  • LaidbackDanLaidbackDan Member Posts: 13,142 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Silver-Nitrate-12-oz-P6503C670.aspx
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  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,569 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's in the sticks for clotting blood sold at pet stores I don't know how pure it is
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A day late and a dollar short..... This has a whole chapter on growing crystals...
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=211580809
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  • wundudneewundudnee Member Posts: 6,108 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here is a link to fisher scientific, however I wouldn't reccomend using any silver nitrate. If you get any on your skin it instantly turns the skin black and it will have to wear or grow off. Nasty stuff.


    http://www.fishersci.com/wps/portal/HOME?LBCID=94520929
    standard.jpg
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  • striperbwarestriperbware Member Posts: 1,044 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Any chemical supply company will sell it. I order chemicals where I work, but I don't know what these companies' policies are on selling to John Doe. Fisher Scientific, VWR Scientific, ALDRICH Chemical.

    Always wear latex gloves and safety glasses when handling chemicals.
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  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    A day late and a dollar short..... This has a whole chapter on growing crystals...
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=211580809

    Damn, my little girl would have loved that kit.....

    I'll have to browse the Everything else more often...
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  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    common is round wood rod applicator little larger than a toothpick with dab of silver nitrate on end...used to cauterize oral canker sores...nasty stuff..not for kids play ..also prescrip only...have used it to zap little skin spots instead of nitrogen.....damn sure don't want to get it around eyes...find something else
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  • storm6490storm6490 Member Posts: 8,010
    edited November -1
    if the high school is in the same area, go over there and get some from the teacher and remember the gratuity.

    if they wont give you a little, you can always order it online or make some with nitric acid and some silver. dissolving elemental silver into a clear liquid will be more interesting than the crystals you will get off of that copper reaction. with silver so high, it would kinda be a waste. but, nothing is too much for your daughter.... i know!!!
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  • shoff14shoff14 Member Posts: 11,994 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would go with copper sulfate. You will get some neat looking crystals from it.
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  • JustjumpJustjump Member Posts: 644 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's commonly used to dissolve "proud flesh" M.D. used it on my son's GT button when he was 2 years old. I asked if it hurt, he said no. I grabbed a stick and put it on the inside of my elbow and closed my arm. IT BURNED... Left a nasty mark
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  • COBmmcmssCOBmmcmss Member Posts: 1,174 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    +1 on this one.
    I used to use Silver Nitrate in the military all the time to titrate our boiler samples. Copper sulfate is MUCH more fun and easy to play with for crystal formation.

    Don't forget, good ol' "rock candy" is nothing more than sugar on a string. That would be good AND good tasting!


    quote:Originally posted by shoff14
    I would go with copper sulfate. You will get some neat looking crystals from it.


    COB
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    I realize that at the third grade level, most science fair projects tend to be 'hey, look what I did!' However, if you (and she) really wants to wow the judges, bring in the scientific method at some level beyond just the predictable. Look into why the crystals grow. Then have her make a 'hypothesis' about how to grow larger/smaller crystals- for instance using distilled water vs. tap, growing them in a fridge (slower evaporation), boiling out the water (outdoors) etc., and compare results to predictions. Note the size of the original granulation of the material before dissolving in water. That should be within the scope of a third grader. And even if her prediction is dead wrong, that's fine, that's the beauty of the scientific method.

    I really got into science fairs in school. I went to several state-wide competitions and got some small cash awards. Tickled me pink. In fact my fourth and eighth grade projects were on a similar topic- electroplating in particular. I tried several compounds and made predictions on which would work based on the ionic charge of the material (cupric sulfate is a great one to use btw) and what would stick to the anode and/or cathode of a D cell circuit. That part might be a bit beyond her now, but is something to consider for the future.

    Also invest in a good board. Don't go with the foam ones that only last for one year or even just a few fairs. Get some masonite, cut into 3 sections, pop rivet some hinges in it, and paint it. It will hold up and she'll be able to use it for subsequent fairs assuming your school requires them for later grades as well.

    Good luck to both of you! [:)]
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  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    A day late and a dollar short..... This has a whole chapter on growing crystals...
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=211580809

    Damn, my little girl would have loved that kit.....

    I'll have to browse the Everything else more often...


    Not as big as the one I sold but a good starter kit...........
    http://cgi.ebay.com/CHILDRENS-SMITHSONIAN-MicroCHEM-CHEMISTRY-SET-/110640191898?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c2ab599a
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  • aw3olaw3ol Member Posts: 583 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Battery Acid???

    [8D]
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  • jptatumjptatum Member Posts: 1,911 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As a chemist I would recommend copper sulfate also. Those blue crstals are really impressive.
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