![]() Miners, silver metal workers, and patients who take silver-based supplements are at risk especially after long-term exposure. Exposure increases the risk for argyria which causes blue skin discoloration. While silver is non-toxic and is not considered a health hazard, its compounds are poisonous. E174 which is a food additive also contains silver and is added to cookie decorations and coatings. ![]() It is also used to produce endotracheal breathing tubes and urinary catheters as well as for its antimicrobial properties. It has applications in the clothing industry, medicine, and optics. The metal is also used to make batteries, contacts, brazing and dental alloys, and mirrors. Printed circuits contain silver-based paints. Silver electrical contacts are used to manufacture keyboards. Silver is also used in the electronic, electrical, photographic, and other industries. It is used to make silverware and jewelry, including ornaments, pendants, and earrings. Silver and its compounds have many commercial applications. There are sulfides, fluorides, and oxides, as well as explosive compounds such as silver fulminate which is sensitive to pressure and heat. While silver is not chemically active, it reacts with sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Silver tarnishes in contact with hydrogen sulfide and ozone. It is stable in water and air and has a metallic luster. In fact, this metal has the highest electrical conductivity. The element has high thermal and electrical conductivity and is malleable and ductile. Some have a half life of about 25 seconds, others – of over 130 years, and still others are stable. The element has several isotopes, including Ag-111, Ag-110, Ag-109, Ag-107, and others. Low concentrations are found in natural sources as well. It is also found in a variety of non-biological sources. Species living near mine wastes and electroplating plants are found to have higher concentrations of silver. High concentrations are found in sewage outfalls, metal mining, cloud seeding, and waste sites. The annual production is about 7,000 tonnes. ![]() The major producers are the United States and Poland. ![]() It is a noble metal, along with gold, platinum, iridium, osmium, ruthenium, and palladium.ĭeposits are found in different parts of the world, including countries such as Canada, Honduras, Bolivia, Mexico, Germany, and Norway. In history, it was used to make coins and ornaments and was produced by separating silver from lead. It is a transition metal that can be obtained from brittle silver and dark ruby and light ruby silver. Silver (number 47, symbol Ag) is a chemical element that occurs in copper-nickel, gold, copper, lead-zinc, lead, and argentite ores. ![]()
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