Interesting facts about silver
Silver is used in a wide range for various industrial and artistic purposes. Given its use in all areas of manufacturing, from electronics and jewelry to automobiles and medicines, you probably encounter white metal almost every day.
But how much do you really know about this white element?
Get ready to learn more about him than you could ever imagine! In this article we will tell you interesting facts about this incredible metal.
These facts about silver will help you impress your family, loved ones and friends!
Silver is among the earliest elements discovered.
It was one of the first five elements known to mankind. These include gold, copper, lead and iron.
It is known that the silver objects date back to about 4000 BC. However, the metal was most likely discovered about 1000 years before that.
Ancient civilizations had learned to separate silver from lead by 3000 BC.e. And this process required considerable effort, and at that time silver products were valued more than gold.
In ancient Egypt, electrum was used in jewelry, and in particular in necklaces.
It is found in the earth's crust
Most of it is located in the upper layers of the earth's crust. Therefore, it literally surrounds us everywhere. Of course, getting to him is a completely different matter.
This precious white metal is found in rocks and, as a rule, must be extracted through mining and processing.
It is a very plastic element that can be pressed, compressed and stretched into any conceivable and inconceivable shape, and it will retain its physical integrity.
For example, one piece of this metal weighing 65 milligrams can be compressed into a plate 150 times thinner than an ordinary sheet of paper. Meanwhile, about 30 grams of metal can be turned into a 2.5 kilometer long wire!
Production is becoming more and more efficient
Mining procedures have become more sophisticated and advanced.
The amount of this precious metal, newly discovered or recycled as a result of previous use, usually increases every year. In 2005, about 20,500 tons of silver were produced worldwide, while in 2020 this number increased to 27,000 tons.
Silver is not toxic to humans
The famous “Nutrition Pyramid” has never told us exactly how much of this metal should enter the body every day. This metal is actively used in the food industry and is found in various food products, especially in decorative edible decorations such as glazes, and others.
Use as a currency
One of the most common items in which this element occurs is money.
Interestingly, the words “silver” and “money” are linguistically synonymous in at least 14 languages.
It has been used as a means of payment since about 700 BC. It is used in coinage and other forms of money all over the world.
Silver and gold
People often ask, “Why can't silver be worn with gold?”.
Oh, this fashion! Wearing jewelry made of silver and gold used to be considered a bad thing. And this was due to the opinion that these metals look inharmonious with each other.
But time goes on and fashion changes. In recent years, wearing these two metals together has become a trend. For example, the combination of these metals in the Foca ring is extremely successful.
Types of silver used in jewelry
There are many types of silver that are used in various jewelry. Among them are the following:
Sterling Silver
It appeared in England in the 13th century. This special alloy consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other precious metals, including copper. Today, sterling silver is popular in jewelry and works of art. In jewelry, such silver is indicated by a 925 breakdown.
High-grade silver
This variety is closest to pure silver. It consists of 99.9% white metal and is designated 999 breakdown. The remaining 0.1% are trace elements, which are found in negligible amounts.
Argentium
This is a type of modern silver alloys created in order to be more durable and resistant to tarnishing than pure silver. It's kind of a sterling silver version.
Silver coating
In fact, it is a thin layer of silver applied to another base metal, usually copper.
Abundance in the world
Yes, this metal is relatively rare and precious, but there is still a lot of it.
Currently, about 570,000 tons are used in various products around the world. It is present in coins, jewelry, works of art, religious artifacts, and so on.
"Silver" is an old word
It comes from the Proto-Slavic “srebro”, from which the Old Russian “silver” and “silver” originated, and has been used since the 10th century.
This precious metal has been around for millennia and has been an important part of civilization for centuries.
It has antimicrobial properties
One of its most useful properties is its resistance to microbes. In other words, the element kills germs.
The Phoenicians were among the first to use silver bottles and vats to store water, wine and milk to prevent contamination and because it disinfects water.
This property is extremely important for various industries. Today, medical equipment in hospitals and doctors' offices is coated with this metal, or more precisely, silver nitrate.
In addition, people often wonder:“Why does the silver darken on the human body?”
This is due to the fact that every day a person inhales sulfur dioxide. In turn, the human body activates a protective mechanism and displaces sulfur dioxide through the skin. The white metal reacts with it and begins to darken.
No metal has the same reflective properties
Silver is often used in the manufacture of mirrors as a coating layer on the surface of mirrors.
There are also several other uses for its high reflectivity. Besides the fact that people admire its brilliance, it is used for a wide range of scientific instruments such as microscopes and telescopes.
Silver has been adorning our lives and helping us achieve progress for many centuries. This unique and ancient metal simplifies everyday life, brings scientific and medical discoveries to a new level. And jewelry made of this precious metal surprises with its sophistication and versatility: silver jewelry suits every type of appearance, emphasizing natural beauty.
