What solution is used to test for halides?

Silver nitrate solution is used to test for halides because it reacts specifically with halide ions (such as chloride, bromide, and iodide) to form insoluble precipitates. When a few drops of silver nitrate are added to a solution containing halide ions, a characteristic color change occurs due to the formation of these precipitates: white for silver chloride (if chloride ions are present), cream for silver bromide (if bromide ions are present), and yellow for silver iodide (if iodide ions are present). This distinguishable change is a visual indicator that allows for the identification of halides in a given sample, making silver nitrate a reliable reagent for this specific test.