One way to separate iron (Fe) from silver (Ag) is to use a chemical reaction. By treating a mixture of the two metals with nitric acid, silver will dissolve as silver nitrate while iron remains unaffected. The solution can then be filtered to separate the dissolved silver from the undissolved iron.
Ag+
Ag(s)
An electrolytic cell
An electrolytic cell
Copper (Cu) does not form more than one type of cation.
Fe + 3AgNO3 ==> Fe(NO3)3 plus 3Ag The oxidation number of Ag in AgNO3 (on the left side) is 1+ and in Ag (on the right side), it is zero. Thus, in this reaction, silver (Ag) has been reduced.
Ag+
AgNO3
Ag(s)
Ag(s)
Fe(s) + 3AgNO3 ---> Fe(NO3)3 + Ag(s) The oxidation # of Ag on the left is 1+ and on the right it is zero. It has gained electrons and has been reduced.
Ag- from Mav student D
Ag+ (apex)
In this reaction, Ag^+ is the oxidizing agent. It undergoes reduction by accepting electrons from Fe to form silver metal, while Fe gets oxidized to Fe^3+ in the process.
Iron (Fe) is the reducing agent in the reaction. It donates electrons to silver nitrate (AgNO3), causing the silver ions to gain electrons and form solid silver (Ag).
-ag=h2(g)-=fe
An electrolytic cell