Mirror Making (Silver Glass Mirror)

What comes to mind when you see a mirror?  Yes, a mirror can reflect a thing back to us so that we can see it. The mirror can be classified into several types include aluminium glass mirror, low aluminium glass mirror, safety glass mirror, silk screen printed glass mirror, and silver glass mirror.  The ordinary mirror that we use is silver glass mirror. We use it every day such toilet mirror, side mirror of vehicles, and make up mirror.  So, today I want to share with you the silver glass mirror since it is the easiest to make among the other type of mirror.I have learned and studied this silver mirror making for 2 weeks. I use the video in You Tube called NurdRage hosted by DR. N. Butyl Lithium. You can search it for your reference. It is very fun and I prepare for this experiment actually. Maybe we can make it together for next time, can we.

 So, there is 4 point that we should noted. First, the preparation before the experiment, then we go to 1^st process,

and proceed to 2^nd process. The final we should alert with several precaution during doing the experiment.Let’s start by doing the most important thing, which is to find all of the materials and apparatus needed to make this mirror. Make sure you are listen carefully because I fear there are several scientific name in chemistry, but I believe you are easy to understand because you are good student right? 

Silver Nitrate

Sdium Hydroxide

Okay, the first step is to prepare the materials and apparatus. We need to prepare 1g silver nitrate (AgNO3), 1g sodium hydroxide (NaOH), exceed ammonia (NH3), 4g sugar, 2 glass bottle, distilled water (H2O), 1 glass container, and 1 glass slide. Other than that we need to prepare the Bunsen burner for heat and suitable place such fume hood. Fume hood is like a box covered by glass. It for our own safety avoiding the experimental chemical substance gives bad result like explode. 

Silver oxide

Second step is process 1. Prepare two glass bottles on the table. Then put in 1g of silver nitrate into the glass bottle and 1g sodium hydroxide into the other glass bottle. Then add distilled water into each glass bottle until it well dissolves. After that, mix them into a glass container. We can observe black solution called silver oxide. 

We continue with the third step. We still use the same substance resulted from the process one. Add exceed ammonia until it well dissolve with the silver oxide. After it appear a clear solution, we add the solution with 4g of sugar so that to make sure the solution is completed dissolve. Afterward, use special magnet stir or we can use Bunsen burner to heat the solution. About less than 2 hour, we can observe the result. The silver will appear inside the glass container while the outside will appear reflective mirror. It is because a glass need only one side of the silver to made a mirror. We can replace the glass container with one side covered glass slide and put it into the solution.

 In this experiment, we need to aware of several precautions. First is performing this experiment outside or in the fume hood for safety. Do fast below the 2 hours. It is because the solution generates extremely explosive silver nitrate on standing. During heat the solution, make sure you not boil it because it can give the silver tears out of glass container. After finish the experiment, wash everything with lot of water.The importance of mirror making is Silver at the back of the glass. The Silver can be used to put it back of the glass after we do the same steps given before. We can found the silver in chemical substance such silver nitrate like we use it before. To separate it out, we need sodium hydroxide and ammonia so that the only Silver will come out.

Today, the mirror is made in various creative shapes. Mirror continues to grow in popularity and we see them just about everywhere.  I believe you as student have these great opportunities to do it.Now you know how to make your own mirror right? You need some money and time to do this, but don’t worry; you will be satisfied with this new experience I promise it. Try your best and never give up. Enjoy yourself and good luck.