What substance in perspiration reacts chemically with silver nitrate to form silver chloride?

The correct response to the question about which substance in perspiration reacts chemically with silver nitrate to form silver chloride is inorganic salts. Perspiration, or sweat, contains various components, including inorganic salts such as sodium chloride (common table salt), potassium, and calcium salts. When sweat containing these inorganic salts comes into contact with silver nitrate, a chemical reaction occurs that produces silver chloride, which is an insoluble white precipitate. This reaction is particularly useful in forensic science when developing latent fingerprints, as it can help visualize prints that might otherwise be invisible.

While organic compounds, surface proteins, and sugars are components of perspiration, they do not participate in the reaction with silver nitrate in the same way as inorganic salts do. Organic compounds can include a variety of substances, but they are not the key players in this specific chemical reaction. Surface proteins might contribute to the matrix of sweat but are not directly involved in the formation of silver chloride. Sugars present do not participate in this specific reaction either.