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Ag-H₂O Pourbaix diagram (25 °C)

The silver-water system, fully thermodynamic per Bard Table 6. Two triple points organize the diagram: TP₁ = 3.43 − log[Ag⁺] (Lines D, E, F meet, AgO band emerges) and TP₂ = 6.32 − log[Ag⁺] (Lines A = B and C = E meet, Ag⁺ / Ag₂O vertical boundary). At default 0.1 M Ag: TP₁ = 4.43, TP₂ = 7.32.

0.1 M
All Nernst equations used in this diagram

S = 0.05916 V (RT·ln10/F at 25 °C). All E° from Bard, Standard Potentials in Aqueous Solution, Table 6 (nonhydrated oxides). Solid activities = 1. Lines are drawn as continuous paths between their thermodynamic crossings, no Ksp constraint imposed (the Ag⁺ / Ag₂O boundary at pH 7.32 is where Line A meets Line B, the true thermodynamic boundary).

Electrode half-reactions (boundary lines)

LineHalf-reactionE° (V)Nernst expressionBard #
AAg⁺ + e⁻ → Ag(s)+0.7991E = 0.7991 + S·log[Ag⁺]#5
BAg₂O(s) + 2H⁺ + 2e⁻ → 2Ag(s) + H₂O+1.173E = 1.173 − S·pH#7ᵃ
C2AgO(s) + 2H⁺ + 2e⁻ → Ag₂O(s) + H₂O+1.398E = 1.398 − S·pH#10ᵃ
DAg₂O₃(s) + 2H⁺ + 2e⁻ → 2AgO(s) + H₂O+1.569E = 1.569 − S·pH#11
EAgO(s) + 2H⁺ + e⁻ → Ag⁺ + H₂O+1.772E = 1.772 − 2S·pH − S·log[Ag⁺]#15
FAg₂O₃(s) + 6H⁺ + 4e⁻ → 2Ag⁺ + 3H₂O+1.670E = 1.670 − 1.5S·pH − 0.5S·log[Ag⁺]#12

Region structure at C_Ag = 0.1 M

pH rangePhases (top to bottom)
0 to 4.43 (below TP₁)Ag₂O₃ | Ag⁺ | Ag (Line F bounds Ag₂O₃ from Ag⁺ directly)
4.43 to 7.32 (between triple points)Ag₂O₃ | AgO | Ag⁺ | Ag (full acidic stack)
7.32 to 14 (above TP₂)Ag₂O₃ | AgO | Ag₂O | Ag (alkaline stack)

The vertical line at TP₂ connects A=B (0.740 V) up to C=E (0.965 V). Above that elevation only Ag₂O₃ and AgO are present and the diagram is continuous. The thermodynamic boundary at pH 7.32 (where Line A meets Line B) is NOT the Ksp dissolution pH 11.15. These describe different chemical conditions, and the Pourbaix uses the redox-coupled criterion. Ag²⁺ (Bard #16) is omitted because it has no real stability region at unit activity. Ag₂O₃ is included as the Ag(III) endpoint per Bard's table.

References