It is believed that from pure silver, to which 999 test was given, it is impossible to make jewelry or practical utensils. This is largely due to the natural softness of the metal. In the old days, silver was attributed to sacred metals, and today it is valued on a par with gold, especially luxurious jewelry. The metal has some features, as well as interesting properties and composition. Before buying silver products, including ingots, we recommend that you first study the characteristics of the material and read useful information about it.
Features
Silver, which chemists also call argentum, can easily be found in the periodic table. Many have been familiar with this element since school times. Pure silver is a malleable, ductile and heavy metal in a light silver hue. It is mined in many large countries of the world, including Russia. Over time, the metal in its pure form or in products is able to change its color (darken), as a result of which it must be regularly cleaned. But, as a rule, unpolluted air cannot oxidize pure silver.
Silver is actively used in coinage, for industrial purposes, as well as in the creation of jewelry, but the latter only applies to metal of a certain sample. It is not advisable to make jewelry out of metal 999, as they will be very fragile and overly problematic in leaving, and it is extremely difficult for jewelers to work with them.
Pure 999 silver is so plastic that from one gram of it you can stretch a thread more than 10 km. Another interesting fact is that scientists found silver on meteorites from space. It is extremely difficult to detect pure metal nuggets in nature; they are most often mined with impurities.And only after some manipulations and special processing can we get the final, almost pure product (99.9%).
Composition and properties
Sample 999 indicates how much pure alloy is contained in the metal. In pure silver of the highest sample, there are practically no impurities, and if any, their amount is very insignificant. Silver belongs to noble metals. It is believed that its specific gravity depends on the sample. So, if you add copper to it, then silver will lose in specific gravity and density.
Some more information:
- melting point is more than 960 degrees;
- density - 10.5 g / cm³;
- the metal has excellent thermal conductivity, and at room temperature it has the highest when compared with all other existing metals;
- silver cannot be dissolved in hydrochloric or dilute sulfuric acid.
Pure 999 silver looks silver, almost white.
Pure metal should not darken in air, but its contamination is not ruled out over time. Pure metal may also darken if air is contaminated with hydrogen sulfide.
Application
Pure silver is often used for scientific purposes, especially in chemistry and physics. Mostly 999 silver is used:
- for medical purposes, including prosthetics and dentistry;
- when creating medicines (biological additives);
- when creating storage lenses, wires, power supplies and other technical devices.
In jewelry, such silver is almost never used, as it can bend or deform even with the slightest pressure. Only certain details for jewelry are made of pure silver, but not independent products.
Often, with the help of this metal, water is purified. It is believed that if you put a silver coin in a glass of water, it will have a disinfecting and bactericidal effect. But many experts are rather skeptical of such a purification.
Due to the fact that silver has high ductility, it is used for a variety of technical products and devices. Pure silver also makes ingots, which are sold by many banks. They are purchased by people for a profitable investment. From pure silver, you can also find various coins, the issue of which is often done not only by banks, but also by various organizations.
Sample 999 is used for the so-called silvering of various products. It can be cutlery, and sets, and caskets, and in general absolutely any accessories and things made of metals. Silver plated gizmos always look expensive, and most importantly, they are very practical and durable.
Cost
The price per gram most often depends on the exchange rate, and the final price tag is usually set by banks. The price per kilogram of 999 silver samples averages around 35-37 thousand rubles.
It is worth noting that when you open a foreign currency account with a bank and when buying silver, the payment will be more than when selling metal, but you can make money on it over the course of several years.
The same applies to the delivery of silver to a pawnshop: they accept it cheaper than they sell.
The average price per gram at a pawnshop usually varies between 34-36 rubles, but in many respects the amount depends on the region of sale, and even the country as a whole. To find out how much an ingot will cost, you need to find out how much it weighs, and also be sure that it has 999 samples. Usually a certificate of authenticity of quality goes to the bullion. Calculating the final price will not be difficult.
Care Tips
Sterling silver items should be stored properly. To do this, you should choose a dry and dark place without excess moisture. A large box or safe is suitable, in which metal will be the most reliable. It is advisable to protect the product from direct sunlight.
For pure silver, mechanical cleaning is not recommended, which can damage it and cause irreparable damage to things.
In order not to spoil the items, including silver coins, it is better to clean them with a special liquid, which can be bought at any jewelry store. After cleaning with liquid, wipe the product dry.
There are also recipes for washing silver with improvised home remedies such as soda, but they can damage the outer layer of coins. Experimenting in this case is not recommended.
In the next video, you will learn how to determine the authenticity of silver at home.
