- Published: September 17, 2022
- Updated: September 17, 2022
- University / College: George Washington University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 48
Silver was one of the first metals discovered along with others by ancient people in around 3000 BC. Silvers chemical symbol is Ag and it has 47 protons and 60 neutrons and is in the eleventh column of the periodic table. (Elements) an abbreviation of the Latin word for silver, ‘ argentum.’ The Latin word originates from argunas, a Sanskrit word meaning shining. Today silver is used to make jewelry and silverware like in the old days except now they use standard silver which is a mixture of 92. 5% silver and 7. 5% copper called sterling silver.
In the past they also made silver coins but now very few coins are made from silver because of its high cost. Silver is also used in the electronics industry because of its great electrical conductivity. Other uses of this metal is to make mirrors dental fillings, musical instruments, and nuclear reactors. (Elements). Silver is non-toxic. However, most silver salts are poisonous and some may be carcinogenic, which means that it has the potential to cause cancer.
Silver is soft and malleable and it has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals(silver). The price for silver today is $17. 45 per ounce or $561. 03 per kilo which is about 2 pounds (silver prices today). There are two natural, stable isotopes of silver, Ag-107 and Ag-109. Mexico, Peru, and China are currently the world’s top producers of silver while the united states is the biggest buyer of silver as of 2016.(Silver Facts).
Silver has antimicrobial which is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth properties, but that doesnt mean its the best option for home remedies. Homeopathy providers which are people that believe the body can heal itself sometimes sell colloidal silver for a variety of health complaints, but drinking it has a weird side effect that turns the skin blue.(pappas) there is around 800 thousand tonnes of silver in the world.