Silver

This article is about the metallic element. For other uses of the term silver, please see silver (disambiguation).

Silver 107.8682(2) 1 2   Ag 47 [Kr]4d10 5s1 11,5,d [ ? ] Transition Metal: Properties: Metallic Compounds: argentite, silver nitrate, silver iodide Uses: coinage, electrical devices, etc. Hazard: silver compounds may cause argyria

Silver is a metallic element. In normal temperature and pressure, silver is a hard, lustrous, malleable solid. It has been discovered and used by human beings since ancient times, and is often regarded as one of the precious metals, along with gold and platinum. Today, silver is often used in electrical devices (such as electrical contacts and wires) and jewelry. It was once used extensively to mint coins and as an antibacterial agent before the discovery of antibiotics (though today silver in colloidal form is still sold as a dietary supplement in the United States). Silver has a melting point of 960.8 Celsius and boiling point 2,212 Celsius. Common silver compounds include silver nitrate and silver iodide.

Properties

Silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity among all metals. Its chemical reactivity is quite low, but can tarnish in the presence of ozone, hydrogen sulfide, or air mixed with sulfur.

References

• Los Alamos National Laboratory