Discovery date : approx 3000BC
Discovered by: -
Origin of the name: The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name, 'siolfur'.
Allotropes :
~>SILVER is a chemical element with symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal.
| FACT BOX | |||
| Group | 11 | Melting point | 961.78°C, 1763.2°F, 1234.93 K |
| Period | 5 | Boiling point | 2162°C, 3924°F, 2435 K |
| Block | d | Density (g cm−3) | 10.5 |
| Atomic number | 47 | Relative atomic mass | 107.868 |
| State at 20°C | Solid | Key isotopes | 107Ag |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d105s1 | CAS number | 7440-22-4 |
| ChemSpider ID | 22394 | ChemSpider is a free chemical structure database | |
Slag heaps near ancient mine workings in Turkey and Greece prove that silver mining started around 3000 BC. The metal was refined by cupellation, a process invented by the Chaldeans, who lived in what is now southern Iraq. It consisted of heating the molten metal in a shallow cup over which blew a strong draft of air. This oxidised the other metals, such as lead and copper, leaving only silver unaffected.
The rise of Athens was made possible partly through the exploitation of local silver mines at Laurium. These operated from 600 BC and right through the Roman era. In Medieval times, German mines became the main source of silver in Europe.
Silver was also mined by the ancient civilizations of Central and South America there being rich deposits in Peru, Bolivia and Mexico.