What is Silver?

Silver chemical symbol and atomic number 47 (: άργυρος <Argyros> Latin, Argentum, or Indo - European root * arg for "gray" or "shining" in Greek) is a metallic chemical element with the AG. Soft, white, shiny transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. Its pure form, free (native silver) in metallic gold and other metals and minerals, such as argentite and chlorargyrite occurs naturally as an alloy. Most silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, and is produced as a by-product of refining.

Silver is a very ductile malleable (slightly harder than gold), monovalent metal coins brilliant white metallic luster that can take a high level of gloss s highest electrical conductivity of all metals, even higher than copper, but the costs are becoming more and more widely used in place of copper for electrical purposes. Except radio engineering in the VHF and higher frequencies, where silver, including wires, improving the electrical conductivity of parts, widely used, particularly. During the Second World War, 13,540 tons electromagnets used for enriching uranium, mainly due to lack of copper used in time of war.

Silver is a precious metal, it is important how long, and is used as input, ornaments, jewelry, high-value tableware, utensils (hence the term silverware), and currency coins form. Today, silver metal is also used in electrical contacts and conductors, in mirrors and in catalysis of chemical reactions. The compounds are used in photographic film and dilute solutions of silver nitrate and other silver compounds, disinfectants and microbicides (oligodynamic effect) is used in the form. While many medical antimicrobial use of silver has been replaced by antibiotics, further research into clinical potential continues.

Among metals, pure silver, the highest thermal conductivity (diamond and superfluid helium II are higher than the carbon-metal) and is one of the highest optical reflectivities. (Aluminum part of the visible spectrum in a small silver outperforms, silver and poor reflector of ultraviolet light). Low resistance metal is silver. Silver halides are photosensitive and latent image that can later be developed chemically are notable for their ability zaznamenat.je. Silver is the most common oxidation state (for example, silver nitrate, AgNO3), while less frequent two compounds (for example, silver fluoride (II) AgF2) and three less common (eg potassium tetrafluoroargentate (iii) KAgF4) and even four compounds ( hexafluoroargentate eg potassium (IV) K2AgF6) is also known.

Source: Wikipedia