How Silver is Formed?
Earthly precious metals have been forged into existence due to supernova explosions. While the exact origins of silver are a contested topic, it is believed by scientists that the creation of heavy metals like silver and gold were formed by nuclear fusion and extreme pressure conditions caused by the explosion of massive stars.
Silver has been considered a precious metal since the dawn of ancient civilizations. The primary form of currency was silver and it has been used as a form of exchange by more people as opposed to other metals such as gold. If you’ve ever wondered how silver is formed and how it is used today then keep reading further. This article will tell you everything you need to know about silver – from its characteristics to its manufacturing process, and modern-day uses of silver.
Characteristics of Silver
Silver is essentially found in ores with other semi-precious, and common metals such as copper, zinc, and lead. Silver was initially found in a nugget form and ancient artifacts prove that silver was used in making utensils and ornaments. Archeologists have dug up remains in areas of ancient Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, China, and Greece. As we move forward in time, silver became an important material for the creation of coins and silverware.
Silver is a white metallic element that is strong, resistant, and doesn’t get affected by moisture or alkalis. The pure form of silver is soft and malleable, but at the same time, it is the most conducive substance against electricity. Silver compound properties prevent it from reacting to different chemicals, however, it does react with sulfur. Traces of sulfur can be found in the air which caused the metal to tarnish. This is the reason why silver jewelry usually turns dull after a while unless you polish it periodically.
The characteristics and physical qualities of silver make it a useful material to be used in various industries. The biggest user of silver compounds is the photography industry which forms light-sensitive salts that are essential for top-grade quality photos. Silver is also used extensively in electronics as it has the highest electrical conductivity per unit volume, even higher than copper. Silver is also used in the chemical process industry for being one of the strongest oxidants. Silver is an important element used in the production of adhesives, dinnerware, and it is used to coat glass in mirrors due to its reflective properties. The most common use of silver is in the form of jewelry. Since silver is a soft material to be durable enough on its own, silver jewelry is usually made up of 5-20% copper.
Silver became popular once it was used to create coinage but as industrialized nations started minting silver coins in the 20th century, the world quantity supplied of silver started depleting causing it to become more expensive.
How is Silver Manufactured?
Silver was first produced in 16th century Mexico by using a method called the Patio Process. The process consisted of mixing silver ore, copper, sulfide, salt, and water. This created a silver chloride and later mercury was added to it. Since this method of producing silver was too complicated and inefficient, a new methodology was adopted known as the von Patera process. This includes the heating of silver ore with rock salt which results in silver chloride.
The method of producing silver that is used in the present day is called the Cyanide process. This process is implemented by industry miners who use low-grade silver ores and refine them into pure silver. The ores that are used in this process must have certain characteristics. The particles of silver must be small and they should react with cyanide solutions. It’s important to note that the ore does not contain other minerals or substances which would hinder the cyanidation process. Lastly, the silver used must not contain any sulfide minerals.
It’s quite rare that silver is found in isolation. Most ores contain several different elements too such as copper, lead, gold, and other metals. The silver we use for commercial purposes is oftentimes a by-product of processing these metals. If an ore contains a large quantity of zinc, the Parkes process is implemented by heating the ore till it melts. Once the mixture cools down, you can see the appearance of zinc and silver crust. After removing the crust the metal undergoes a distillation process which removed the zinc particles and you’re left with pure silver.
Our Final Thoughts
Silver has been around for centuries and it has taken different roles over the period of time. From being used in the production of coinage and silverware, to becoming a popular metal for jewelry making and other industrial uses. The future of silver depends on factors such as the rate of production of other metals such as copper, lead, zinc, and gold. The modern use of silver in the medical industry has picked up momentum. Its use is linked to treating AIDS, the sanitization of plastic products, and more.
We now know how silver is formed, the characteristics it has, and how it is being used in the world today. We are yet to discover the true potential of using silver but there is an abundance of research which suggests that silver has antimicrobial properties that can be used in treating localized wounds, as well as in the production of silver-infused textile which prevent smelly bacteria from settling onto the fabric.
