Silbersulfid

Silbersulfid, also known as silver sulfide, is a chemical compound with the formula Ag2S. It is a dense, brittle, black mineral substance that is composed of a silver sulfide anion (S2-) coordinated to two silver cations (Ag+).

Silbersulfid has a complex crystal structure, with a face-centered orthorhombic crystal system. It is sometimes found in nature as a rare mineral, often associated with other silver-bearing ores like galena (PbS) or pyrargyrite (Ag3SbS3). However, most silbersulfid is synthesized in the laboratory for various applications.

In photography, silbersulfid is used as a photographic toning agent to create blue hues in black-and-white prints. The precious silver content allows it to be used in laboratories for treating photographic waste and recovering valuable metals.

From an industrial perspective, silbersulfid is used in the electroplating of other materials to deposit thin layers of silver. This process is often employed in the production of electrochemical capacitors, and to coat surfaces with corrosion-resistant and conductive silver layers.

On the hazard and safety side, silbersulfid can release silver fumes when heated, from which breathing the fumes can be toxic in high concentrations. Silbersulfid itself is generally non-reactive, but warm water can lead to dissolving the salts and release toxic silver ions.

Pure silbersulfid lacks reactivity, but can be somewhat reactive with strong acids like nitric acid.