Silver

Humans have been fascinated by silver since prehistoric times. Archaeologists have found evidence of silver being separated from lead as far back as 3000 BCE! By the time of the Greeks and Romans, silver was a huge part of the economy, with coins and jewelry made from this shiny metal. Silver mines were so rich with metal that miners could simply extract silver from the rock by hand! Silver production came to a screeching halt with the fall of the Roman Empire and didn’t pick back up until hundreds of years later.

By the 1500s, silver became even more important with the rise of the Spanish empire. The Spanish "piece of eight" became the world’s most famous currency, used by explorers, traders, and especially pirates! The Spanish peso became the first world currency and served as the basis for the Japanese yen, Chinese yuan, and US dollar. The discovery of silver in the Americas set off a silver rush that changed global trade forever.

But silver isn’t just about wealth and trade—it’s packed with myth and mystery, too. In ancient folklore, silver was said to have magical powers, like being able to detect poison or cross into the magical world of fairies. The idea of a "silver bullet" comes from legends about its ability to defeat supernatural creatures, like werewolves and witches. Now, we use the phrase to describe anything that’s a perfect solution to a tough problem. Throughout history, silver has been more than just a metal; it’s been a symbol of protection, purity, and power.

Today, silver is still a major player in the world economy, with about one-fifth of it being recycled. Whether it’s in coins, jewelry, technology, or tales of magic, silver’s shine has captivated the world for millennia!

Pure silver has a brilliant white metallic luster. Silver isn’t very strong, which is why ancient societies didn’t use it in metallurgy, but instead used it as a form of money or in art. Silver is a little harder than gold, and it’s very ductile—meaning it can be easily stretched—and malleable. It can be hammered or pressed into shape without cracking. Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals; electricity flows easily through silver, making it ideal for electronics.

Polished silver is the best-known reflector of visible light, but silver quickly interacts with sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in the air, making the metal tarnish. Silver is mildly toxic, and inhaling silver dust can make you sick.

Silver has many uses. Sterling silver—an alloy containing 92.5% silver mixed with another metal—is used in jewelry (or “bling,” as the ancients would have it).

Silver is used in dental fillings, solder and brazing alloys, electrical contacts, and high-capacity batteries. Silver is also used in solar panels, TV screens, and automobile parts.

Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, silver is frequently used on high-touch surfaces—such as door handles, medical equipment, and even bank pens—to help reduce the spread of germs. Silver nanoparticles can also be used in clothing to kill odor-causing bacteria and keep you smelling fresh.

Although silver seems rare, it’s just about everywhere you look!

Silver forms many compounds that have lots of varied uses. Silver fulminate is a powerful explosive. Silver nitrate, bromide, and iodide are sensitive to light and played important roles in the history of photography.

In nature, silver is found almost equally in one of two isotopes—silver-107 or silver-109. These isotopes are produced in stars and supernovae. Scientists have identified 28 unstable, or radioactive, isotopes of silver.

Most silver comes from lead, lead-zinc, copper, gold, and copper-nickel ores. Today, Mexico, China, and Peru are top silver producers. Recycling is trendy in the silver world, with a fifth of global supply coming from recycled silver.