Provenance

Reference data from EU CLP Annex VI and published regulations — verify against your supplier's SDS before use.

Build a label

Safety data sheet reference · CAS 7761-88-8

Silver nitrate SDS

also: silver nitrate MSDS · safety data sheet · AgNO3 · CAS 7761-88-8 · EC 231-853-9 · lunar caustic

Danger · Category 2–3 Skin Corr. 1 Aquatic Acute 1 · Aquatic Chronic 1 UN 1493 · ADR 5.1 · PG II
Flame Over Circle GHS03 Corrosion GHS05 Environmental Hazard GHS09

Official PDF from supplier

This page is a reference, not the legal document.

CAS number

7761-88-8

EC number

231-853-9

CLP Annex VI index

047-001-00-2

Molecular formula

AgNO3

Molar mass

169.873 g/mol

§ 02 · Hazards identification

Silver nitrate harmonised EU classification

CLP Annex VI · Index 047-001-00-2. A supplier SDS may add self-classified hazards — this is the legal minimum.

H272 May intensify fire; oxidiser. Oxidising liquid/solid — Category 2–3
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Skin corrosion — Category 1 (Skin Corr. 1)
H400 Very toxic to aquatic life. Hazardous to aquatic environment, acute — Category 1 (Aquatic Acute 1)
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Hazardous to aquatic environment, chronic — Category 1 (Aquatic Chronic 1)

Precautionary statements

P260 Do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
P273 Avoid release to the environment.
P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
P301 IF SWALLOWED:
P310 Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor.
P331 Do NOT induce vomiting.
P391 Collect spillage.
P501 Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local regulations.

Codes ending in a colon introduce the action that follows — on a label they are printed as combined statements, such as P305+P351+P338.

§ 03 · Composition and identifiers

Silver nitrate structure

Silver nitrate is an ionic compound — there is no discrete AgNO3 molecule. The diagram shows the ions the crystal lattice is built from.

Ions of silver nitrate (AgNO3)

Ions of silver nitrate · AgNO3

SMILES [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Ag+]
InChI InChI=1S/Ag.NO3/c;2-1(3)4/q+1;-1
InChIKey SQGYOTSLMSWVJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
PubChem CID 24470 →

Identifiers from PubChem (NIH, public domain). Structure diagram drawn with RDKit from the SMILES string.

§ 04 · First-aid measures

Silver nitrate first aid measures

Call your national emergency number first. These are published first-aid measures, not medical advice, and they do not replace emergency services, a poison control centre or the supplier's safety data sheet.

§4–§6 below reproduce the CAMEO Chemicals entry SILVER NITRATE. CAMEO publishes response data per product entry, so the entry can describe a solution, a refrigerated liquid or a molten form rather than the pure substance in §9 — check it matches what you are handling.

Refer to the ERG "General First Aid" instructions. Specific First Aid: Contaminated clothing may be a fire risk when dry.

Source: ERG, 2024 — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), public domain.

§ 05 · Fire-fighting measures

Silver nitrate fire fighting measures

ERG 2024 · GUIDE 140 Oxidizers

ERG guidance is written per response guide, not per substance — Guide 140 covers every material assigned to it, so a few sentences reference other UN numbers in the same group.

Fire and explosion hazard

Behavior in Fire: Increases flammability of combustibles.

Extinguishing media and tactics

SMALL FIREUse water. Do not use dry chemicals or foams. CO2 or Halon® may provide limited control.

LARGE FIREFlood fire area with water from a distance. Do not move cargo or vehicle if cargo has been exposed to heat. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS, RAIL TANK CARS OR HIGHWAY TANKSFor ammonium nitrate products: Do not fight cargo fire. Withdraw, evacuate and isolate area for at least 1600 meters (1 mile). Treat as an explosive (ERG Guide 112). Do not enter area for 24 hours or until expert advice has been provided. Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn.

Source: ERG, 2024 — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), public domain. Entry: SILVER NITRATE.

§ 06 · Accidental release measures

Silver nitrate spill and leak response

Containment and clean-up

Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Do not get water inside containers.

SMALL DRY SPILLWith clean shovel, place material into clean, dry container and cover loosely; move containers from spill area.

SMALL LIQUID SPILLUse a non-combustible material like vermiculite or sand to soak up the product and place into a container for later disposal.

LARGE SPILLDike far ahead of liquid spill for later disposal.

Initial isolation and evacuation

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASUREIsolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

LARGE SPILLConsider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).

FIREIf tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. If ammonium nitrate products are in a tank, rail car or truck and involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, initiate evacuation including emergency responders for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions.

Source: ERG, 2024 — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), public domain. Entry: SILVER NITRATE.

§ 07 · Handling and storage

Silver nitrate computed storage compatibility

§ 08 · Exposure controls

Silver nitrate exposure limits (IDLH)

IDLH

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health

10 mg Ag/m3

The limit is expressed as Ag, not as the mass of silver nitrate itself.

NIOSH Pocket Guide — Silver nitrate →

IDLH from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (CDC, U.S. public domain), via CAMEO Chemicals. Occupational exposure limits — OSHA PEL, NIOSH REL and EU IOELV — are not published on this page yet.

§ 09 · Physical and chemical properties

Silver nitrate physical properties

Melting point 212.2 °C
Boiling point 440 °C
Relative density (water = 1) 4.35

Source: CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA, public domain); per-value source references stored in the database.

§ 10 · Stability and reactivity

Reactive group (CAMEO/NOAA): Nitrate and Nitrite Compounds, Inorganic. Our database documents 41 incompatible and 20 caution reaction-partner groups for silver nitrate — including which combinations release gas on contact. See the per-partner breakdown with gas release →

41

Incompatible

20

Caution

§ 13 · Disposal considerations

Dispose of waste and residues in accordance with local and national regulations — in the EU under the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC. Never discharge to drains or municipal waste; hand contaminated packaging and unused product to an authorised waste-disposal company. The supplier's SDS section 13 lists the applicable waste codes for the specific product.

§ 14 · Transport information

Silver nitrate road transport — ADR 2025

UN number

UN 1493

Proper shipping name

SILVER NITRATE

Class · PG

5.1 · II

Classification code

O2

Transport category

2

ADR labels

5.1

Hazard ID (Kemler) / UN plate

50
1493

Top: hazard identification number (Kemler). Bottom: UN number — as carried on the orange plate of the transport unit.

Source: UN ADR 2025 (ECE/TRANS/352), Table A. Road (ADR) only — for sea (IMDG) and air (IATA), consult the supplier's SDS §14.

MSDS vs SDS

Silver nitrate MSDS vs SDS: is there a difference?

MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the older name for the same document. In the US, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (2012) adopted the GHS-standardised 16-section Safety Data Sheet; in the EU the format is set by REACH Annex II. So a "silver nitrate MSDS" and a "silver nitrate SDS" refer to the same document — today it is issued as an SDS. Full breakdown of the differences →

Other oxidizers in our database

Substance profile

What silver nitrate is

Physical and chemical properties with the conditions each value was measured under, synonyms, formula and the harmonised CLP classification →

Compliance hub

From classification to SDS

The classification above corresponds to Section 2 of a Safety Data Sheet. Learn how a compliant 16-section SDS is structured and authored →

GHS label maker

Build the label for silver nitrate

Pictograms, signal word and H-statements combined into a compliant label layout →

§ 16 · Sources

Reference aid only. This page summarises the harmonised EU classification and computed storage guidance — it is not a Safety Data Sheet and does not replace one. Always verify hazards, handling and storage against the supplier's SDS (sections 7 and 10) and local regulations before use. Page updated 2026-08-11.

Frequently asked questions about silver nitrate

Is an MSDS the same as an SDS?

In practice, yes. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is the older name for the same document. In the US, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (2012) adopted the GHS-standardised 16-section Safety Data Sheet; in the EU the SDS format is set by REACH Annex II. A document you find labelled "silver nitrate MSDS" is today issued as an SDS.

What GHS pictograms does silver nitrate require?

Under the harmonised EU classification (CLP Annex VI), silver nitrate carries GHS03 and GHS05 and GHS09 with the signal word "Danger". Hazard statements: H272, H314, H400, H410. A supplier's SDS may add self-classified hazards on top of this harmonised minimum.

What should silver nitrate never be stored with?

Based on its storage class (Oxidizers), silver nitrate must not share storage with: Cyanides & sulfides; Flammable liquids; Flammable solids; Mineral acids; Organic acids; Organic peroxides & self-reactives; Reactive metals; Water-reactives. Verify against the supplier's SDS sections 7 and 10 before finalising storage.

Where can I download an official silver nitrate SDS PDF?

From your own supplier — an SDS is issued per product and supplier, so the correct PDF for an inspection is the one matching the product you actually purchased. The supplier links on this page lead to the official SDS libraries of major distributors.

Emergency mode Silver nitrate

Call emergency services first

112 in the EU · 911 in the US. This screen is published response information, not medical advice, and it does not replace emergency services, a poison centre or the supplier's safety data sheet.

Text below is the CAMEO Chemicals entry SILVER NITRATE — confirm it matches the form in front of you.

01 · First aid

What to do for the person

Refer to the "General First Aid" section. Specific First Aid: Contaminated clothing may be a fire risk when dry.

02 · Fire

Extinguishing and tactics

Fire and explosion hazard

Behavior in Fire: Increases flammability of combustibles.

Extinguishing media and tactics

SMALL FIREUse water. Do not use dry chemicals or foams. CO2 or Halon® may provide limited control.

LARGE FIREFlood fire area with water from a distance. Do not move cargo or vehicle if cargo has been exposed to heat. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS, RAIL TANK CARS OR HIGHWAY TANKSFor ammonium nitrate products: Do not fight cargo fire. Withdraw, evacuate and isolate area for at least 1600 meters (1 mile). Treat as an explosive (ERG Guide 112). Do not enter area for 24 hours or until expert advice has been provided. Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. ALWAYS stay away from tanks in direct contact with flames. For massive fire, use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn.

03 · Spill

Containment, isolation, evacuation

Containment and clean-up

Keep combustibles (wood, paper, oil, etc.) away from spilled material. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled material unless wearing appropriate protective clothing. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Do not get water inside containers.

SMALL DRY SPILLWith clean shovel, place material into clean, dry container and cover loosely; move containers from spill area.

SMALL LIQUID SPILLUse a non-combustible material like vermiculite or sand to soak up the product and place into a container for later disposal.

LARGE SPILLDike far ahead of liquid spill for later disposal.

Initial isolation and evacuation

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASUREIsolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

LARGE SPILLConsider initial downwind evacuation for at least 100 meters (330 feet).

FIREIf tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. If ammonium nitrate products are in a tank, rail car or truck and involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, initiate evacuation including emergency responders for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions.

Sources: ERG 2024 (PHMSA) · NIOSH Pocket Guide (CDC) · CHRIS (USCG) · NTP · EPA — via CAMEO Chemicals (NOAA), public domain. Text reproduced verbatim.

Get the free GHS / CLP / OSHA deadline calendar

Verified 2026–2029 compliance dates in one PDF — plus alerts when the rules change.