Silver
Element 47 · Transition Metal
Silver has been treasured for thousands of years as coinage, jewelry, and ornament — its chemical symbol Ag comes from the Latin argentum. Beyond beauty, silver holds two unbeaten records among the elements: the highest electrical conductivity and the highest thermal conductivity. Those talents put it inside solar panels, high-end electronics, and antimicrobial medical dressings. Silver tarnishes in air containing sulfur compounds, forming the dark silver sulfide film familiar on old silverware, but a quick polish restores its brilliant white luster.
Key facts
| Atomic number | 47 |
|---|---|
| Atomic weight | 107.87 |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Group / Period | 11 / 5 |
| Block | d |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d10 5s1 |
| Common oxidation states | +1, +2 |
| State at STP | Solid |
| Electronegativity | 1.93 |
| Atomic radius | 144 pm (empirical) |
| Density | 10.49 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 961.78 °C |
| Boiling point | 2162 °C |
Occurrence
Silver occurs as native metal and in ores such as argentite (silver sulfide), often alongside lead, zinc, and copper. Most silver today is produced as a by-product of mining those base metals.
Applications
Jewelry and silverware
Electronics and solar cells
Mirrors and reflective coatings
Batteries and brazing alloys
Common compounds
- Silver nitrate
- Silver chloride
- Silver bromide
- Silver oxide
Silver conducts electricity better than any other element — even copper — which is why high-performance electrical contacts are often silver-plated.
Data source: IUPAC standard atomic weights 2021; NIST physical property data