Silver

The symbol of silver ig Ag which is driven from the Latin word Argentum which means shiny and lustrous. Its atomic number is 47 and atomic weight is 107.88. Its electronic configuration is as shown below

Shell	K	L	M	N	O
Number of electrons	2	8	18	18	1
Orbitals	1s2	2s22p6	3s23p63d10	4S24p64d10	5s1

Position of silver in periodic table: Silver has one electron on its valence cell. Its position is in Group IB of periodic table and falls on 5^th period of d-block element. Its valency is 1. By loosing 1 electron it forms Ag⁺ ion.

Occurrence: Silver is found in nature on pure as well as in the form of different ores. Major ores of silver are, argentite, silver glance, horn silver, silver copper glance etc. The major ore is argentite among them.

Physical properties of Silver:

• It is shiny white metal with attractive luster
• Its specific gravity is 10.5
• Silver melts on 960^oC and boils at 1955^oC
• It is very good conductor of heat and electricity
• It is malleable ductile in nature

Uses of silver:

• It is used to make ornaments
• It is used to make silver coins
• It is used to make decorative materials
• It is used to polish mirrors
• It is used to make silver amalgams
• Silver oxide used to make calculator batteries
• It is used to make silver salts
• It is used in electroplating
• It is used to make expensive utensils
• Silver bromides are widely used as photography chemicals