Silver Nitrate reacts with which component found in fingerprint deposits?

Silver nitrate specifically reacts with chlorides, which are commonly found in sweat and other components of fingerprint deposits. When fingerprints are deposited, they can include various substances such as salts, oils, and amino acids. Among these substances, chlorides are significant because they can react with silver nitrate to form a white precipitate of silver chloride when the latent print is developed.

The formation of this precipitate is utilized in forensic applications to visualize latent prints on porous surfaces. This method is particularly effective since chlorides are present in sufficient quantities in perspiration, making them a reliable target for detection with silver nitrate. The development of prints through this chemical reaction highlights its importance in forensic science, specifically in the area of latent print examination.