Silver nitrate is a versatile inorganic compound and is a harbinger to several silver compounds.The fact that nitrate can be displace easily by other ligands makes it a versatile compound.It is also less light sensitive than other silver compounds and is also non hygroscopic.

SILVER NITRATE FOR ANALYTICAL PURPOSE

In analytical chemistry silver nitrate is used as a popular reagent for conducting limit test of several halides, cyanides and thiocyanide.It forms insoluble precipitate of silver salt when it reacts with halides, cyanides and thiocyanide. It is also used as a reagent in volhard's , mohr's and fajans method.

MEDICAL USE OF SILVER NITRATE

Silver nitrate poses antiseptic properties and can be used topically to treat wounds and burns.Silver is an antimicrobial astringent and acts by protein precipitation mechanism.In this the silver metal reacts with protein of the microbe and forms a complex due to which the configuration of the microbe changes and there is overall change and destruction of function in specific protein which is
responsible for ultimate destruction of microorganism.It is also used to treat warts.

SILVER NITRATE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSE

When making a photographic film silver nitrate is treated with halide salts of sodium or potassium to form insoluble silve halide  in situ in photographic gelatin , which is then applied to strips of polyester.

SILVER NITRATE FOR DETECTING ALDEHYDE 

It is quite cumbersome to differentiate aldehyde and ketone due to their similar structure.Silver nitrate is an oxidizing agent and it is an important component of tollen's reagent which oxidizes aldehyde to its corresponding carboxylic acid  and a silver mirror is produced.Tollen's reagent can only produce silver mirror with aldehyde and not ketone.

SILVER NITRATE AS A STAIN IN SEM IMAGING

In SEM images, the silver lines surrounding the endothelial cells, and the deposits on the intima appear as white lines or dots on a darker background.

Deposits of the calcium salts of phosphates and carbonates (stained with silver nitrate) were easily differentiated from other tissue components in the kidney thereby it is easier for one to detect kidney stones.This stain is also called von kossa stain.

ROLE OF SILVER NITRATE IN PLANT TISSUE CULTURE

Silver nitrate has been known to inhibit ethylene action which prevents cut flowers from ripening. Silver ion is capable of specifically blocking the action of endogenously applied ethylene in classical responses such as abscission, senescence and growth retardation. These observations led to its application in tissue culture. Addition of AgNO3 to the culture media greatly improved the regeneration of both dicot and monocot plant tissue cultures. It has been employed in tissue culture studies for inhibiting ethylene action because of its water solubility and lack of phytotoxicity at effective concentrations.