Metal Description - Silver

Silver is most common in the form of jewelry. Popular for its luster and shine, it is a relatively affordable metal, which makes it easily accessible. Practical silver jewelry is popular for men, women and children alike, so it is one metal that will always be in style. It is especially popular in New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico where silver mines are prevalent. Silver jewelry can be casual or elegant, and versatile in its ability to compliment any skin tone.

STATS

Chemical Element Symbol : Ag
Latin name: Argentum
Atomic number: 47
Hardness: 3.25 mohs

CONSISTENCY

Silver is a soft metal that is ductile and easily tarnishes. Silver is considered a precious metal and has been used in silverware and jewelry for many centuries. Silver became more popular around 1492 when silver mines were discovered in Mexico, Bolivia and Peru. At the time, technology was also improving so that silver could be more easily extracted from ore. Standard silverware is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. The copper adds to the hardness factor of the tableware, which makes it more durable and longer lasting.

HISTORY AND USES

Human uses for silver can be traced back as early as the 4th millennium BCE. In folklore, silver is portrayed to have lunar properties and is therefore affiliated with creatures of the night. For example, the silver that gives mirrors its reflective quality is said to be invaluable in warding away vampires by exposing their lack of soul. Similarly, silver bullets are the only known defense against the mystical werewolf.

Silver is applied to food and desserts for decorative purposes and is also used in clothing. One might consider this to be a waste but the silver mineral, in fact, inhibits bacterial and fungal growth and is therefore an invaluable addition to these items’ chemistry. Silver is incorporated into clothing articles in two ways: One is through nanotechnology, and the other is through coating each individual thread with silver to create a metallic shine. In the Middle Ages, Romans and Greeks chose the healing properties of silver for use as a disinfectant, in the dressing of wounds, and to properly store food and purify water.

Silver is also commonly used in photography and dentistry. It is a familiar metal now that is one-fiftieth the price of gold and seventy times more valuable than copper.