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Instructions
Determine the surface area of the mirror in square inches so that you can mix the appropriate amount of chemical solutions. The surface area of the mirror will be the square of the mirror radius multiplied by pi (3.14).
Determine the amount of silver nitrate to mix by dividing the area of the mirror by 5. Mix each gram of silver nitrate with 16.6 cc of distilled water. For example, a mirror with a 12-inch radius has an area of 6 times 6 equals 36 times 3.14 equals 113 square inches and 113 divided by 5 equals 22.6. Mix 22.6 g of silver nitrate with 22.6 time 16.6 equals 375 cc of distilled water. Mark this solution as "Stock solution No. 1."
Mark 1,000 cc of concentrated ammonium hydroxide as "Stock solution No. 2." Mix half the amount of potassium hydroxide solution that you used when mixing silver nitrate. For example, if you used 22.6 grams of silver nitrate, mix 11.3 grams of potassium hydroxide with 11.3 time 16.6 equals 188.5 cc of distilled water. Mark this solution as "Stock solution No. 3."
Mix table sugar equal to half the amount of the silver nitrate used, 0.4 cc of concentrated nitric acid per gram of sugar and 16.6 cc of distilled water per gram of sugar. Bring the solution to a boil then allow it to cool to room temperature, Mark this solution as "Stock solution No. 4." When mixing the nitric acid and water, slowly add the acid to the water to reduce the chance of dangerous splatter.
Pour a sufficient amount of solution No. 1 into a glass container so that approximately half of the mirror will be submerged. Do not place the glass mirror into the container. Add solution No. 2 slowly, stirring the two solutions as they mix. A brown precipitate will form at first and begin to disappear as more of solution No. 2 is added.
Add the last amount of solution No. 2, drop by drop, until the brown precipitate clears and then stop. Add solution No. 3 slowly and when a brown precipitate forms, stop and add just enough of solution No. 2 to clear the solution. Add small amounts of solution No. 2, drop-by-drop, until the solution is slightly cloudy.
Pour solution No. 4 into the glass container and stir vigorously for a few seconds. Lower the clean glass mirror, face up, into the solution. Continually move the mirror through the solution while keeping it completely submerged by gently tilting the container from side-to-side and by moving it with a circular motion.
Swab the surface of the mirror with cotton balls when the reflective surface has formed and black specks begin to settle on it. The black specks are silver precipitate and indicate that the process is coming to an end. When the solution begins to clear, remove the mirror and rinse it with distilled water.
Dry the mirror and check the reflective surface of the mirror for defects. Repeat this process if the reflective surface on the mirror is not thick enough. Judge this for yourself based on personal preference.