Silver (Ag) is a chemical element. It is a lustrous white metal that is prized for its decorative beauty and electrical conductivity. Silver is situated between copper (Period 4) and gold (period 6) in Group 11(b) and period 5 of the periodic table. The physical and chemical properties of silver are intermediate between those two metals.
Silver
What is Silver?
Silveris achemical elementwith thesymbolAg. Silver has anatomic number47. It is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal. The metal silver has the highestand the best electrical conductivity,thermal conductivity, andreflectivityof anymetal. The metal is found in the Earth’s crust in the pure, free elemental form of native silver. Silver is analloywithgoldand other metals. Also, in minerals such asargentiteandchlorargyrite. Most silver is a by-product ofcopper, gold,lead, andzincrefining.
Silver is one of theprecious metals. Silver metal is in use in manybullion coins, sometimesalongside gold.While it is more abundant than gold. Silver is much less abundant as anative metal.The purity of silver is measured on aper-milebasis. A 94%-pure alloy is “0.940 fine”. Silver is one of the sevenmetals of antiquity. Silver has a long-lasting role in most human cultures.
Other than incurrencyand as aninvestmentmedium silver is in use as coinsandbullion. Silver plays a major role in solar panels,water filtration,jewellery, ornaments, high-value tableware and utensils. The term “silverware”, is given incontext to electrical contactsandconductors, in specialized mirrors, window coatings. In thecatalysisof chemical reactions, silver is a colourant instained glassand kept in specialised confectionery. The compounds of silver are in use inphotographicandX-rayfilm. Dilute solutions ofsilver nitrateand other silver compounds are in use asdisinfectantsand microbiocides. Silver is added tobandagesand to wound dressings,catheters, and othermedical instruments.
Occurrence of Silver
The abundance of silver is 0.08parts per million in the Earth’s crust. It is almost exactly the same as that ofmercury. Silver mostly occurs insulfideores, especiallyacanthiteandargentite, \(Ag_2S\). Argentite deposits also containnativesilver when they occur in reducing environments. When it comes in contact with salt water, they are converted tochlorargyriteincludinghorn silver, AgCl. AgCl is prevalent inChileandNew South Wales.Most of the other silver minerals are silverpnictidesorchalcogenides. These minerals are generally lustrous semiconductors. The truest silver deposits are opposed to argentiferous deposits of other metals, which come fromTertiary periodvulcanism.
The principal sources of silver are the ores. The ores of copper, copper-nickel, lead, and lead-zinc. Since 1546, we get this ore from Peru,Bolivia,Mexico,China,Australia,Chile,PolandandSerbia.Peru, Bolivia and Mexico have been mining silver. They are still major world producers. The top silver-producing mines are Fresnillo(Mexico), Cannington(Australia),Antamina(Peru),Rudna(Poland), San Cristóbal(Bolivia), andPenasquito(Mexico). Some top near-term mine development projects through 2015 are Pascua Lama (Chile), Navidad (Argentina), Jaunicipio (Mexico), Malku Khota (Bolivia),and Hackett River (Canada).InCentral Asia,Tajikistanis has the largest silver deposits around the globe.
Chemical Properties of Silver
- Silver belongs to group number 11, period 5 and block d.
- The atomic number of Silver is 47.
- The state of silver at 20 degree Celsius is solid.
- The electric configuration is silver is \([Kr]4d^{10}5s^{1}\).
- The melting point of silver is \(961.78^oC\), \(1763.2^oF\), \(1234.93 K\).
- The boiling point of silver is \(2162^oC\), \(3924^oF\), \(2435 K\).
- The density of silver is \(10.5g/cm^3\).
- The relative atomic mass of silver is 107.868 grams.
- The key isotopes of silver are \(107_{Ag}\), \(109_{Ag}\).
- The oxidation states of silver are +1, +2, +3.
- The specific gravity of silver is approximately 10.5. It has a face-centred cubic (FCC) structure.
- While coinage metals are to be oxygen-resistant in the air. Silver will lose its lustre as a result of exposure to air or moisture by hydrogen sulphide gas.
- Pure silver metal is heat and electricity’s best conductor.
- For making jewellery and utensils, pure silver would be too soft so it is usually alloyed with at least one other metal. For instance, sterling silver is generally about 93% silver and 7% other metals, mostly copper.
- Silver can be found in high concentrations such as argentite, \(Ag_2\). \(SAg_2S\). Most of the silver is recovered in other metals such as copper refining processes.
- The silver compounds are light-sensitive therefore, the photographic industry uses a lot of silver bromide and silver chloride.
Applications of Silver
Jewellery and silverware
The major use of silver besides coinage is in the manufacture ofjewelleryand other general-use items, this continues to be a major use today. For instance, thetable silverfor cutlery due to its antibacterial properties.
Medicine
In medicine, silver is incorporated into wound dressings. It is in use as an antibiotic coating in medical devices. Wound dressings containingsilver sulfadiazineorsilver nanomaterialsare present to treat external infections. Silver is also in use within some medical applications, likeurinary catheterswhere tentative evidence indicates it reduces catheter-relatedurinary tract infections.
Electronics
Silver is an important part of electronics for conductors and electrodes on account of its high electrical conductivity even when tarnished. Bulk silver and silver foils are in use to make vacuum tubes and continue to be in use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, circuits, and their components. For example, silver is in use in high-quality connectors forRF,VHF, and higher frequencies, particularly in tuned circuits such ascavity filterswhere conductors cannot be scaled by more than 6%.
Brazing alloys
Silver containingbrazingalloys are for brazing metallic materials. The materials are mostlycobalt,nickel, and copper-based alloys, tool steels, and precious metals. Silver provides step up workability and corrosion resistance during usage.
Chemical equipment
Silver has a major use in the manufacture of chemical equipment. It is an account of its low chemical reactivity, high thermal conductivity, and is easily workable. Silvercrucibles are in use for carrying out alkaline fusion. The equipment that uses silver to work at high temperatures is often silver-plated. Silver and its alloys with gold are very useful in making wire or ring seals for oxygen compressors and vacuum equipment.
FAQs about Silver
Question 1: State 3 interesting facts about silver?
Answer: Silver is a metal that is very ductile and malleable. Silver is very transparent, smooth, white and lustrous metal. It contains all the elements with the highest electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity of silver is potentially much greater than copper. The most common use of silver metal is for electrical cables and wiring.
Question 2: Is silver antibacterial?
Answer: It has long been known that silver’s antibacterial action is enhanced by the presence of an electric field. It is in use as a topical antiseptic. Silver is incorporated into the bacteria it kills. Dead bacteria can be the source of silver that could destroy additional bacteria easily.
Question 3: Does silver react with gold?
Answer: Atoms like Gold and Silver react with one another to form reasonably strong metallic bonds. But surprisingly they have almost no chemical interaction with the atmosphere.
