Similarly, silver nitrate is used to prepare some silver-based explosives, such as the fulminate, azide, or acetylide, through a precipitation reaction.
Similarly, this reaction is used in analytical chemistry to confirm the presence of chloride, bromide, or iodide ions.
It is still used to determine if moisture on formerly dry cargo is a result of condensation from humid air, or from seawater leaking through the hull.
[15] Silver nitrate produces long-lasting stain when applied to skin and is one of indelible ink’s ingredients.
An electoral stain makes use of this to mark a finger of people who have voted in an election, allowing easy identification to prevent double-voting.
The stain would produce a stable color that could range from pale lemon to deep orange or gold.
[19] [20][21][22] Fused silver nitrate, shaped into sticks, was traditionally called "lunar caustic".
[23] Silver nitrate is used to cauterize superficial blood vessels in the nose to help prevent nosebleeds.
[25] Much research has been done in evaluating the ability of the silver ion at inactivating Escherichia coli, a microorganism commonly used as an indicator for fecal contamination and as a surrogate for pathogens in drinking water treatment.
Concentrations of silver nitrate evaluated in inactivation experiments range from 10–200 micrograms per liter as Ag+.
Silver's antimicrobial activity saw many applications prior to the discovery of modern antibiotics, when it fell into near disuse.
[citation needed] Repeated daily application of silver nitrate can induce adequate destruction of cutaneous warts, but occasionally pigmented scars may develop.
[27] Despite its common usage in extremely low concentrations to prevent gonorrhea and control nosebleeds, silver nitrate is still very toxic and corrosive.
[29] Silver nitrate is currently unregulated in water sources by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Argyria is a permanent cosmetic condition in which the skin and internal organs turn a blue-gray color.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency used to have a maximum contaminant limit for silver in water until 1990, when it was determined that argyria did not impact the function of any affected organs despite the discolouration.