Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. The metal occurs naturally in its pure, free form (native silver), as an alloy with gold and other metals, its weight can be up to several hundreds of kilograms. In the long run silver jewelleries tarnish and become dark due to the a chemical reaction when the hydrogen sulphide exude of the body: Ag + H2S → AgS + H2.

Silver characteristics

Silver is a metal with the best electro and thermal conductivity. The silver value in compounds might be +1 and +2. Its value is +1 in the biggest part of compounds. Its melting temperature is 960ºC, simmer temperature - 1955ºC. It is chemically inactive; it does not oxidize in air and heat therefore it is considered as a precious metal. Silver is soft and figurative metal therefore it is easy to rough it up. The plate at the density of 0,00025mm can be gained after silver is being cured. This plate is so thin that can let in the sun rays.

From all metals silver has the greatest electro and thermal conductivity as well as the biggest light reflection capability – it can reflect up to 95% of the light that is directed towards this precious metal.
Silver is chemically sustainable in the air as well as in the wet environment. It can sometimes become dark. It might be explained with the fact that the silver reacts with the hydrogen sulphide that is the component part of the air. Silver can become dark when it has been into the interaction with the products with the sulphur portion. This is exactly the reason for people to start doubt the quality of the purchased silver jewelleries. 

Silver usage

Silver is widely used in jeweller’s art work, electronic, precise mechanical engineering, rocketry, medicine and chemical industry. It is often used as decorative or protective cover. Yesterday, it was used as an anode for the accumulators, contacts in the telephone exchange and electro technique. These where the spheres where Latvia had got its silver reserves for jewelleries recently after they were processed over. However, the former reserved started disappearing and today silver is exported from the countries where this precious metal is being extracted.

Water can be activated using silver – silver is being immersed into the water and hence it delivers its ions to water making it healthy and fresh for longer period of time. This method was used by the priests who confirmed water poured into the silver vessels and gave it to their listeners. This water stayed fresh up to a year, making people believe that “the blessed” water has magical power.
Silver also has antibacterial character. Using silver dished during the meal, the users are faced with less risk to get an infectious disease. This phenomenon also has historical roots – during plague the rich and wealthy ones were people who suffered less from this terrible disease because they had their meals form silver dishes.

Silver in jewelleries

Speaking about the silver jewelleries, the one should have to be mentioned – comparing with other metals (gold, cooper, titanium and others) the demand for it is very stable despite to the changes in fashion trends. It might be explained with the fact that silver has good wearing quality and very acceptable price, besides, the silver colour and tone matches with all colours of dresses. The only one unrewarding characteristics is silver’s softness and might get damaged in case of careless use. However, it is more related to the rings. For example, doing housework, repairing cars and performing other everyday work, it is advisable to take off rings avoiding of their damaging.

Silver and health

Silver is also an indicator of a person’s health. If suddenly the silver jewellery becomes dark, it might indicate some health problems, especially in the liver and kidneys (of course, it might be true unless there were some contact with products containing sulphur). However, we should have to remind, that silver reacts differently to different people. Sometimes, for instance, a ring might get used to its owner and after some days of being dark, it brightens and does not show any sign of darkening anymore.  There have been some such cases in our practice as well and even after consultations with the chemists, we have not found the explanation for this mystical phenomenon.