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How to Test Silver Content in Powder

Silver powder is finely pulverized powder, with a typical diameter measurement of each particle of just 2 microns. Silver powder has many industrial uses such as in glass tinting during the manufacture of Venetian glass beads. It's also an additive in cleaning products because of its germicidal benefits. Silver is a nontoxic, nonreactive metal and it won't dissolve in water. If you want to test the quality of silver in your powder, the best method is to use a test kit. The color change reaction of silver with an acid, such as nitric acid, is used to reveal the purity of your silver sample.

Things You'll Need

Silver acid test kit
Protective gear
Ceramic tile

Instructions

- 1
  Read all instructions that come with your silver acid test kit. The general principles should apply from one kit to the next, but it's better to be safe and follow directions when it comes to chemical testing.
- 2
  Don appropriate protective gear. Put on goggles, lab gloves and a chemical apron over your lab coat.
- 3
  Get a chemical grade ceramic block or use a laboratory bench setting to test your silver content.
- 4
  Scoop a prescribed amount of silver power onto a clean ceramic surface, such as a ceramic tile that can tolerate acid. Use the tip of a knife or a small laboratory spatula and place the powder onto the block.
- 5
  Use the enclosed dropper in your test kit, or get a glass dropper to extract some acid from the bottle. Drop only the appropriate amount of acid described in your test kit instructions onto the silver powder sample.
- 6
  Review the color chart included in your silver test kit. Look for the color most closely defined by your results to reveal the quality of your silver powder. Results can vary between kit manufacturers, so don't expect to use a chart from another kit maker for accurate results.

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