Some Factors Affecting the Reduction of Silver Oxalate

(1) Silver oxalate precipitates age rapidly, and the process is not greatly impeded by adsorption of wool violet or 3,3'-diethyl-9-methylthiacarbocyanine. (2) Gelatin markedly decreases the rate of reaction between silver oxalate and hydroxylamine in slightly acid solution. A break is obtained in the rate-gelatin curve corresponding to a definite adsorption layer. The thickness of this layer is the same for silver oxalate, silver chloride, and silver thiocyanate. (3) The dye, 3,3'-diethyl-9-methylthiacarbocyanine, has a much smaller effect than gelatin upon the reaction rate. (4) The effect of bromide ion upon the gaseous products of the reaction between silver oxalate and hydroxylamine in alkaline solution is considerably smaller than in the corresponding reactions of silver chloride and thiocyanate.