Silver is a metal (see photo below), which is one of the rare chemical elements. It is most often used to make jewelry.
However, silver is a metal with a wide range of applications. Cinematography and medicine, photography and engineering are indispensable without it. Silver is also used as a means of investment. In this regard, it is in no way inferior to gold. On the contrary, silver is often used by investors to diversify risks.
Silver as a chemical element
Silver - metal or non-metal? Of course, metal. And the periodic system compiled by Mendeleev can confirm this. You can find this metal in its first group. The atomic number of silver is 47. Its atomic mass is 107.8682.
Silver is a noble metal that consists of two isotopes. These are 107Ag and 109Ag. In addition, more than thirty-five radioactive isomers and isotopes of silver have been discovered by science, with mass numbers ranging from 99 to 123. The longest-lived of them, 109Ag, has a half-life of 130 years.
History of origin of the name
Silver –a metal that has attracted the attention of people since ancient times. The name "silver" comes from the Sanskrit word "argenta". It means "light". The Latin "argentum" (silver) has the same roots. But in this language it means "white".
Silver is a noble metal, and alchemists did not bypass it. In ancient times, they developed a method for stopping this natural element.
In Russian, the metal in question is called "silver", in English it sounds like "silver", in German - "silber". All these words come from the ancient Indian "sarpa", meaning the moon. The explanation for this is quite simple. The glitter of silver reminded people of the light of a mysterious celestial body.
History of precious metal
Silver has been known to mankind since time immemorial. The exact date of its opening is unknown. However, written sources indicate that jewelry from this metal was made by the ancient Egyptians. At that time, silver was rarer than gold, and therefore valued much more.
The first mines for the extraction of this natural element were founded by the Phoenicians before our era. Development was carried out in Cyprus and Corsica, as well as in Spain.
As jewelry in that period, silver was valued fabulously expensive. For example, in ancient Rome, the pinnacle of luxury was a s alt shaker made of this beautiful metal. Why is such an element common in nature so valued by people? The fact is that mankind knew only native metal. Finding him was verycomplicated. This was prevented by sulfide, which covers all nuggets with a dark coating.
The turning point in the history of silver was the experiments conducted by medieval alchemists. The purpose of their experiments was to obtain gold from any other metal. Thus, the Europeans managed to extract silver from its compounds with various chemical elements (arsenic, chlorine, etc.).
In the history of silver, such personalities as Scheele, Paracelsus and others played a significant role. These scientists studied silver (metal), the properties of its compounds. As a result, interesting conclusions were drawn. Thus, the fact was confirmed that this natural element has disinfectant qualities that were noticed in ancient times. For example, the healers of Egypt used silver plates to treat wounds in order to avoid the formation of pus in them. The high antibacterial properties of this metal were also appreciated by the aristocracy. So, for many centuries, silverware has been synonymous with high-quality and expensive dishes. By that time, mankind had improved the methods of mining the described metal, which made it possible to significantly reduce its cost.
Silver was also used as a means of payment. For this, coins were made from it. It is silver that Russians owe the name of the state monetary unit. For settlements in Russia, the required amount was cut off from silver bars. This is how the word "ruble" came into use.
Physical properties
Silver is a relatively ductile and soft metal. From one gram of it, the thinnest wire can be drawn, the length of whichwill be almost two kilometers.
Silver is a heavy metal with a density of 10.5 grams per cubic centimeter. According to this indicator, this element is only slightly inferior to lead.
Silver is a metal that has no equal in electrical and thermal conductivity. That is why a spoon made from this substance heats up so quickly in a glass of hot water.
What other properties does silver have? What metal is most often used by jewelers? Silver is a relatively easy material to work with. This is due to its ability to melt at a temperature of 962 degrees. This value is relatively low. In addition, silver can be easily alloyed with many other metals to change its characteristics. So, copper is able to increase the hardness of this plastic natural element. When it is added, silver becomes suitable for the manufacture of various products.
This amazing element was described in detail in his writings by D. I. Mendeleev. He also indicated how to identify the silver metal among others. First of all, the noble component stands out for its whiter and purer color. In addition, silver is so soft that it wears off easily.
Chemical properties
How to distinguish silver from metal in finished products? Rings, chains, spoons, forks, coasters and old coins begin to fade over time and even turn black. The reason for this is the effect of hydrogen sulfide on them. The source of the latter is not only rotten eggs. Hydrogen sulfide is emitted by rubber and some polymers. Chemical reactionoccurs in the presence of some moisture. At the same time, the thinnest film of sulfide is formed on the surface of the products. At first, thanks to the play of light, it seems iridescent. However, the sulfide film gradually thickens. It darkens, changes its color to brown, and then to black.
Silver sulfide cannot be destroyed by strong heating, it cannot be dissolved in alkalis and acids. If the film is not very thick, then it is removed mechanically. It is enough to polish the product with powder or toothpaste with soapy water to restore its shine.
How to distinguish silver from metal in other ways? To do this, observe chemical reactions. The noble element can be easily dissolved in some acids. These are nitric and concentrated hot sulfuric, as well as iodine and hydrobromic acids. If the chemical reaction between silver and hydrochloric acid took place in the presence of oxygen, then its result will be complex noble metal halides.
Silver will not interact with nitrogen and hydrogen. It does not react with carbon either. As for phosphorus, it can act on silver only when it reaches the red heat temperature at which phosphides are formed. But with sulfur, the noble metal interacts quite easily. When these elements are heated, sulfide is formed. The same substance can be obtained in the case of exposure to gaseous sulfur on a heated metal.
Interesting is the chemical reaction of a noble metal with oxygen. Silver with himdoes not react, but can still dissolve a significant amount of this gas. This property of the metal, when heated, contributes to the appearance of a very dangerous, but at the same time beautiful phenomenon. It's a splash of silver. This phenomenon has been known since ancient times.
Silver is a metal whose properties allow it, like gold, to easily interact with aqua regia, as well as with hydrochloric acid saturated with chlorine. As a result of such a reaction, it precipitates into an insoluble precipitate, since a sparingly soluble chloride is formed. These differences in the behavior of silver and gold are often used to separate them.
Able to dissolve the lunar metal in dilute sulfuric acid. However, for this, silver must be finely dispersed and in contact with oxygen.
Noble metal can be dissolved in aqueous solutions of alkaline earth and alkali metals, cyanides, if they are sufficiently saturated with air. The same reaction occurs when silver comes into contact with an aqueous solution of thiourea, which contains iron s alts.
Moon metal compounds tend to have a positive first oxidation state. In some elements, this indicator reaches a value of two or three. However, such silver compounds are of no practical importance.
Biological properties
Silver is a metal (see photo below), which is six times less in living substances than in soils. In other words, this element is not classified as biological.
However, a small amountpositive silver ions are sufficient for many processes to take place. For example, the ability of low concentrations of this metal to have a bactericidal effect on drinking water has been known since ancient times. Even as little as 0.05 milligrams per liter of ions provides sufficient antimicrobial activity. Such water can be consumed without fear for your he alth. Interestingly, her taste remains unchanged.
If there are 0.1 milligrams of silver ions in a liter of liquid, then it can be preserved for one year. But don't boil the water. High temperature causes silver ions to become inactive.
The noble element's bactericidal property allows it to be widely used to sterilize drinking water. So, in some household filters there is activated silver-plated carbon. This component releases negligible doses of healing ions into the water.
The antimicrobial ability of silver finds its application in the disinfection of swimming pools. In them, water is saturated with the bromide of this metal. A low concentration of AgBr (0.08 mg/l) is harmless to humans and harmful to algae and pathogens.
How can one explain the bactericidal action of silver ions? The fact is that they affect the vital activity of various microbes, interfering with the work of their biological catalysts. That's how silver works. What metal can do this? One such substance is mercury. She, like silver, is a heavy metal, but much more toxic. Mercury chlorides are easydissolve in water, they are dangerous to human he alth. Copper has similar properties.
Negative influence of silver
It often happens that a substance that is beneficial to a person in small doses becomes fatal in large quantities. Silver is one of those elements. It has been experimentally proved that significant amounts of this metal ions can reduce immunity in experimental animals, and make negative changes in the nervous and vascular tissues of the brain. Even larger doses damage the liver, thyroid, and kidneys. In practice, cases have been recorded when a person received poisoning from silver preparations, which was accompanied by severe mental disorders. Fortunately, this element is easily excreted by the body.
A pathological condition caused by lunar metal
In medical practice, there is an unusual disease called argyria. It appears in a person if for many years of his life he works with silver or its s alts. These substances enter the body in small doses, being deposited in the connective tissues, as well as in the walls of the capillaries of the kidneys, bone marrow and spleen. The pictures below convincingly speak of the external symptoms of this pathology.
Silver is a metal that gradually accumulates in the mucous membranes and in the skin, giving them a bluish or gray-green color. At the same time, it becomes especially bright in those parts of the body that are exposed to light. Sometimes skin color changes so much that a person becomeslooking like an African.
The development of argyria is very slow. Its first symptoms become noticeable after two to four years of constant work with silver. The strongest darkening is observed after tens of years. First of all, the color of the lips, temples, conjunctiva of the eyes changes. Then the eyelids darken. Sometimes the gums and mucous membranes of the oral cavity, as well as the nail holes, are stained. Sometimes argyria appears as small green-blue spots.
It is impossible to get rid of this pathology and return the skin to its previous color. However, in addition to external cosmetic inconvenience, the patient does not complain about anything. That is why argyria can only conditionally be considered a disease. This pathology has its positive side. A person literally saturated with silver never suffers from infectious diseases. Healing ions kill all pathogens that enter the body.
Similar metals
Silver is a non-ferrous metal, which is sometimes difficult to distinguish from similar ones in appearance. This is not easy to do, but it is quite possible.
Metal that looks like silver can be white gold, cupronickel or aluminium. How to distinguish them? Only professionals who are familiar with the specifics of these metals can determine whether a product is made of silver or white gold. Doing it yourself at home is not recommended.
Outwardly, these two metals are very similar to each other. The fact is that white gold contains a large percentage of silver. Only a jeweler is able to distinguish products from these materials,which will calculate the original by density.
Silver is a non-ferrous metal that is often confused with cupronickel. The latter is an alloy of nickel, lead and copper. Often cupronickel is a production component of silver of various technical samples. How to distinguish "silver metal"? First of all, you need to carefully consider the existing product. There will be no test on cupronickel. On such products they put only the stamp "MNTs", which indicates the composition of the alloy (copper, nickel and lead). Silver differs from an alloy in density and weight. However, these characteristics can only be established by a specialist. At home, you can drop a solution of iodine on the product. After that, a stain will remain on silver, but not on cupronickel.
Often, they try to pass off aluminum as a noble metal. However, the latter has significant differences from silver in density, brilliance, hardness and color. Fake products are trying to be sold only in doorways and various shops. Such jewelry after a short wear begins to oxidize. You can distinguish silver from aluminum using a magnet. Noble metal will not be attracted to it. In addition, any physical or chemical impact on aluminum causes a change in its color, appearance and deformation of the dimensions.
Silver and jewelry fashion
Due to the availability of this material, a large number of different decorations are made. Is silver a precious metal or not? Yes, it is in the same group as gold and platinum. These are noble metals that do not undergo oxidation and corrosion. Precious themcalled not only because of the unique properties, but also because of the small reserves contained in the earth's crust.
Silver is a universal material. It is equally well suited for both women and men of different social status and age. Silver goes well with enamel, with gold. Precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, corals and ivory look great on it.
Silver jewelry is perfect for any occasion. Moreover, from a wide variety of models, you can always choose a product for a specific occasion. In addition, according to ancient ideas about this metal, it is able to heal and soothe. That is why, in our insanely high-speed age, you should not deny yourself the acquisition of a little joy.
Today, jewelers offer a huge amount of a wide variety of jewelry, the material for the manufacture of which was silver. Each of these products will certainly give a good mood. It's easy to recognize them in a jewelry store window.
Silver is the lightest noble metal. It is not surprising that the demand for jewelry made from it is stable in all countries of the world. An important factor in the popularity of silver products is their color. After all, one of the most fashionable is clothing made of gray fabric with a metallic sheen, as well as black and white. This trend has moved to jewelry made of precious metals. There is a high consumer demand for products in which silver is combined with sapphire, emerald, topaz, garnet, amethyst, tourmaline. Often, malachite and lapis lazuli, agate and jasper are used as inserts,carnelian and chalcedony, amber and tiger's eye. Often silver is used to create rings and pendants with enamel, filigree, engraving and enamel.
All these decorations have a wonderful alternative. Silver-plated metal is used to create jewelry. In appearance and quality, such things are no different from those that are completely made of noble material. One of the positives is their price. She pleasantly surprises customers. In addition, silver-plated jewelry is suitable for those who have sensitive skin. Such products do not cause any irritation and do not leave marks when worn. Their quality is evidenced by the fact that they do not rust or darken over time. Thus, silver-plated rings, chains, bracelets and pendants will be a great gift for a loved one or friend. Their cost is quite reasonable, and the quality is excellent.
