Silver nitrate is a versatile chemical compound that has a variety of uses in industry, medicine, and research. Its most common use is as a caustic agent in the production of industrial chemicals. It is also used in the preparation of silver mirrors, as a mordant in dyeing and printing textiles, and as an antiseptic in medicine. In research, silver nitrate is used as a reagent in the analysis of compounds and as a catalyst in chemical reactions. It is a highly reactive substance and should be handled with care.