What is Silver: Definition and 128 Discussions

Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin argentum, derived from the Proto-Indo-European h₂erǵ: "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. The metal is found in the Earth's crust in the pure, free elemental form ("native silver"), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a byproduct of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining.
Silver has long been valued as a precious metal. Silver metal is used in many bullion coins, sometimes alongside gold: while it is more abundant than gold, it is much less abundant as a native metal. Its purity is typically measured on a per-mille basis; a 94%-pure alloy is described as "0.940 fine". As one of the seven metals of antiquity, silver has had an enduring role in most human cultures.
Other than in currency and as an investment medium (coins and bullion), silver is used in solar panels, water filtration, jewellery, ornaments, high-value tableware and utensils (hence the term "silverware"), in electrical contacts and conductors, in specialized mirrors, window coatings, in catalysis of chemical reactions, as a colorant in stained glass and in specialised confectionery. Its compounds are used in photographic and X-ray film. Dilute solutions of silver nitrate and other silver compounds are used as disinfectants and microbiocides (oligodynamic effect), added to bandages and wound-dressings, catheters, and other medical instruments.

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  1. A

    Medical Exploring the Potential Benefits and Risks of Colloidal Silver: An Overview

    Good evening, I just have a quick question regarding the potential uses of colloidal silver as a cure for many types of pathogens. It is my understanding that colloidal silver can kill about 600 different types of bacteria/viruses based on many in-vitro studies. Despite its potential benefits...
  2. R

    Why is the silver anode preferentially discharged in electroplating?

    I am quite confusing about the concept of electroplating of silver. As what I know, the silver anode gives out Ag+ while the Ag+ in the silver nitrate solution deposits on the cathode (e.g. a spoon). However, why the Ag(s) on the silver anode is preferentially discharged instead of the OH-...
  3. H

    Medical Mangan, iron, silver, copper and other metal in blood?

    I was recently asked why the iron in our blood wasn't killing us while iron is poisonous to the body; and what would be if it was other metals than iron in our blood, what would happen?
  4. P

    Separating Silver from Aluminum & Making Silver Nitrate

    Let's say I have a mixture of silver and aluminum metal, and I just want the silver metal. How do I just get the silver metal and get rid of the aluminum? Also, if I have silver metal and I want to make silver nitrate, what molarity HNO3 should I add?
  5. A

    Calucating the solubility product of Silver Chloride

    Homework Statement A sample of AgCl was treated with 5ml of 2M Na2CO3 solution to produce Ag2CO3. The remaining solution contained 0.003 g of Cl- per litre. Calculate the solubility product of AgCl.(Ksp of Ag2CO3 = 8.2 ×10-12) Homework Equations ksp of AgCl = [Ag+]×[Cl-] ksp of Ag2CO3 =...
  6. A

    Major silver coin find at Gothland

    Today, it was revealed in Scandinavian papers that about 6000 silver coins, the oldest from about 1040, was found on the large Swedish island Gothland. There are, as yet, no photos of the full find, it was found in a bronze container last Thursday. My speculation, as yet unverified by any...
  7. B

    Copper & Silver Nitrate: Applying to Daily Life

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  8. V

    Calculators Using the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition's Buttons as Pictures in MS Word

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  9. A

    Silver Coating Various Materials

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  10. P

    Why the surface plasmon always use gold or silver as a metal film?

    I found a lot the the surface plasmon on prism geometry are using gold for metal film, and part of it are using silver. Why we need use gold or sivler as a metal film, is it about the condutivity?
  11. C

    Medical Is colloidal silver a safe and effective treatment for microbial infections?

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  12. M

    Affordable Alternatives to Silver Solder for Heating Element Joining

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  13. V

    TI-84 Plus Silver: Finding the Zeros

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  14. B

    Does the Silver Wire Net Really Increase Gas Range Efficiency?

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  15. T

    How much Silver Nitrate to produce a precipitate?

    Homework Statement What is the minimum amount of AgNO3, in grams, that has to be added to 2.50L of 0.020M K2CrO4 to produce a precipitate? Homework Equations Ksp Ag2CrO4 = 9.0 x 10-12 [Ag+]2[CrO4-2] = 9.0x10-12 The Attempt at a Solution 2AgNO3(aq) + K2CrO4(aq) --> Ag2CrO4(s)...
  16. R

    Formation of Silver Nanoparticles from Green Tea Reducing Equivalents

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  17. F

    How many silver bars can a raft made of whole logs bear?

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  18. B

    Determine transmission of light through silver.

    Homework Statement The complex index of refraction of silver at 532 nm is \tilde{n} = 0.13 + 3.19i. What is the transmission for this light through a layer of silver that is one wavelength (in the medium) thick? In this problem, don't worry about reflections from the boundaries, just consider...
  19. T

    Fortran Generating Coordinates for Silver Atoms in C and Fortran

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  20. S

    Work function of silver given wavelength

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  21. K

    What's the motivation of using silver atoms in the Stern-Gerlach experiment？

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  22. I

    Removing silver flake from steel wool

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  23. C

    Solution of silver ions turning amber

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  24. C

    Silver Oxide Formation in Electrolysis Experiment

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  25. C

    Calculators Copy & Paste TI-84+ Silver Edition

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  26. J

    Silver nitrate + water ? / Br in water?

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  27. D

    Minimizing Silver Nitrate Loss: Separating a Mixture of Silver Nitrate and Sand

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  28. D

    Silver instead of copper wire in electric generators?

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  29. Char. Limit

    Silver Compounds: Why AgCl is So Insoluble

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  30. W

    What is the Symbol for the SJC27145A Remote Control Circuit?

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  31. A

    How to Calculate the Area of a Thin Silver Sheet Using Density and Mass

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  32. E

    Can Silver Be Scientifically Harmful to Werewolves?

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  33. R

    Silver: A Transition Element Explained

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  34. Q

    Silver Nitrate reacting with K2C2O4 Balanced reaction HELP

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  35. M

    Why is silver percieved as grey in colour?

    Why is "silver" perceived as "grey" in colour? I think we can probably agree that grey would be the closest approximation to the colour of reflective surfaces. I am guessing this is similar to the way in which auto exposure works on cameras in that they assume that the entire scene will be 18%...
  36. H

    What Causes Precipitation When Silver Nitrate Reacts with Different Ions?

    We were doing anion identification tests in the lab today and I noticed silver nitrate had a tendency to react with the samples and something would precipitate out. I also noticed silver nitrate is the reactant used for chloride tests. Is what precipitates out in that case silver chloride? Also...
  37. G

    Mass of silver to cover a 2.0 x10^2 cm2 object with .20mm thick layer

    Homework Statement if an object to be coated in a .20mm thick layer with a surface area of 2.0x10^2 cm^2, what is the mass of the silver required? (density of silver is 10.49 g/cm^3) Homework Equations d=m/v , surface area formula? not sure which one The Attempt at a Solution i...
  38. S

    Creating Pink Sterling Silver: Chemistry and Heat Treatment Explained"

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  39. J

    Latent heat of fusion for Silver

    [b]1. Calculate the minimum amount of NRG, in joules required to completely melt 130g of silver initially at 15 degrees Celsius. [b]2. ? Q = mC (Tf-Ti) + mHf? saw it online somewhere, not sure what the proper formula for this problem is, and if it is done does everything need to be converted to...
  40. I

    Calculators Problem Uninstalling Programs from TI-84 Plus Silver Edition

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  41. G

    Adding silver to bronze in foundry

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  42. J

    Calculating Electrons in Silver Pin: 10g Mass, 47 e-/atom

    Homework Statement (a). Calculate the number of electrons in a small, electrically neutral silver pin that has a mass of 10g. Silver has 47 electrons per atom, and its molar mass is 107.87 g/mol. (b). Imagine adding electrons to the pin until the negative charge has the very large value of...
  43. P

    Can Low-Temperature Ceramic Processing Help Coat Silver Objects?

    I would like to find out more about low-temperature processing ceramics. I'm a product designer and I am working on covering silver objects with ceramics but I am having some problems combining the two materials. Can anyone help me?
  44. D

    What are the challenges in selecting a conductive coating for HF applications?

    First off, maybe this should have gone in the Material Engineering thread, but since it is so common in the EE field...well, I justified it. I have an aluminum housing which gets plated with Ag over Ni. Once received, the housing goes through the following process: Cleaning (alcohol...
  45. J

    Determining Ksp for Silver Sulfate

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  46. P

    Calculators How do I add games to my TI-83 Plus Silver?

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  47. K

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  48. A

    Color codes there is gold (5%) and silver (10%) for tolerence

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  49. lisab

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  50. U

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