Silver

Symbol: Ag
Atomic No: 47
Atomic weight: 107.88
Valency: 1
Electronic configuration: 1s²,2s²,2p⁶,3s²,3p⁶,3d¹⁰,4s²,4p⁶,4d¹⁰,5s¹
Position in the periodic table:

Silver is the "D" block transition element. It belongs to the group IB of the periodic table.

Some important ores of silver

1. Argentite
   
2. Horn silver
   
3. Silver copper glance
4. Pyrolite

Properties of silver

Physical properties

1. Silver is white lustrous metal.
2. Its specific gravity is 10.52.
3. Its melting point is 960⁰C and boiling point is 2162⁰C.
4. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
5. It is malleable and ductile in nature.

Chemical properties

Action with acids

1. Silver does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute sulphuric acid but it reacts with hot concentrated sulphuric acid and this reaction gives sulphur dioxide water and silver sulphate.
2. Silver reacts with both dilute and concentrated nitric acid to form silver nitrate.

   3Ag + dil.4HNO₃ → 3AgNO₃ + 2H₂O + NO

   Ag + conc.2HNO₃ → AgNO₃ + H₂O + NO₂

3. Silver reacts with hot and concentrated hydrochloric acid only in the presence of oxygen and it forms silver chloride.

   4Ag + conc. 4HCl + O₂ → 4AgCl + 2H₂O

Uses of silver

1. It is used to makecoins,jewelry and decorative articles.

   

   
2. Silver bromide is used in photography. It is used in electroplating.