Silver

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

Silver 107.8682(2)   Ag 47 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s2 4p64d105s1 [ ? ] Transition metal: Properties: Lustrous, hard, malleable and ductile metal. Compounds: Chloride, halide, iodide, nitrate sulfide. Uses: Coinage, silverware, jewelry, electrical devices. Hazard: Most silver salts are poisonous. Silver compounds can be absorbed in the circulatory system and cause argyria.

Silver is a chemical element, having the chemical symbol Ag. At normal atmospheric pressure and typical room temperatures, silver is a hard, lustrous, malleable and ductile solid in its elemental form. It is considered to be a member of the "Transition metal" class of elements.

Silver has been known and used by mankind since ancient times, and is commonly 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).

Properties

Silver's atomic number (the number of protons) is 47 and it has a standard atomic weight of 107.8682 g•mol ⁻¹.

At a pressure of 101.325 kPa, it has a boiling point of 2,162 °C and a melting point of 961.78 °C.

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.