History of the Use of Silver Metal
The history of the use of silver metal dates back to 4 thousand years before Christ; in the ancient history of this metal, it was first given much attention due to its luster and brilliance; on the other hand, this element became very rare because the knowledge and means of extracting this metal The part of earth were unknown among the people of that time.
Discovery of silver metal
Unlike gold and copper metals, silver metal is not found raw; therefore, the history of the extraction of this element has many ups and downs. It is expected that silver metal was first obtained by melting copper ore.
Around four thousand years before Christ, an element called silver was discovered, and the popularity of this element increased over time; in the history of this metal, it is stated that the first silver mining mine was found in the Anatolian civilization (Turkey). Due to the lack of knowledge of how to extract this valuable element worldwide, the mine in this area was considered the only silver metal extraction point worldwide for many years.
About 3000 years before Christ, historical books have mentioned how to extract the silver metal. At that time, the civilizations of Rome, Greece, Egypt, and Iran always used this element for commercial and ornamental purposes.
The popularity of this metal caused other civilizations to search for ways to extract this element. In about 3000 thousand years before Christ, the popularity of silver metal increased in such a way that its exchange price was more than any other element; that’s why different civilizations discovered and searched for other mines.
This search caused the ancient Chinese civilization to find a way to increase the extraction of silver metal from mines around 2500 years before Christ, and gradually the degree of purity of extracted silver increased.
The main hub of silver production and mining in the world
The increased demand for this magnificent metal made the Greeks the central pole of silver production and extraction worldwide. In the history of this metal, it is one of the most significant producing civilizations. With time and after several centuries, the Spanish people from the Greeks in this They surpassed the order and took the first place. At that time, the extraction of this element caused Spain and Greece to have a better economic position than other countries in the world.
At that time, the seven best metals known in the world, these metals were: silver, gold, iron, copper, mercury, tin, and lead. In ancient Iran, silver was known as wire; on the other hand, mercury metal because of its silvery appearance. The color itself was known as mercury or liquid silver.
In the world, mercury metal has borrowed its original name from silver. It is called liquid silver (Watery) with the Latin name Hydrargyrum, and the famous word Quick Silver, which refers to the element mercury, confirms this.
A time of universal popularity in the history of silver
With the passage of time and the progress of science, many minerals were discovered in America and Mexico, which led to the development and transformation of the industry of these countries, so much so that this period was so important in terms of the history of this element that the period after the discovery of this metal was named after Argentina. Argentina’s era from 1792 to 1965 completely changed the financial system of the United States.
Advancement of silver metal
Currently, the countries of Mexico, America, and Peru are among the largest suppliers of silver in the world.
The critical applications of this metal today are used in various carats of jewelry and ornaments, in electrical and heating industries, medical and dental surgery equipment, soldering, and nuclear reactors.
Silver is known as AG in the periodic table of Mendeleev’s elements. This name is taken from the era of Argentina.
In Mendeleev’s periodic table, the silver element is abbreviated as ag, has an atomic number of 47, and is placed in row 5 and group 11.
Use of silver metal
Because of its beautiful appearance, silver metal was used among wealthy men and women to show uniqueness. Silver ornaments, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc., are used to adorn the body.
On the other hand, since ancient times, the use of silverware in the homes of wealthy people has been highly prosperous.
Today, jewelry and accessories such as rings, bracelets, silver necklaces, and cufflinks with ruby or diamond gemstones are used in large gatherings and parties.
Rhodium metal is used to make the silver shine. The best thing to use in silver is rhodium metal. This metal is also used to whiten 18-karat gold, but it has very low durability, but the combination of this element with silver makes everything shine. Most of the jewelry is made of silver and has a very long shelf life.
In ancient times, using ordinary wooden dishes was not a good option for the rich and noble class. For this reason, in the history of its origin, silver metal made its way to aristocratic houses as a metal for use in dishes.
Today, 92.5% pure silver is used to make jewelry; silver with this purity is called sterling.
Sterling silver
The best purity percentage for high polish and more resistance in silver metal is 92.5%. This means 92.5% pure silver elements and 7.5% copper, tin, and other metals are used.
Sterling silver is used in jewelry. 999 silver bullion is used for investment purposes. 840 silver is used in silver dishes because they must have high strength.
Silver is an element with several unique properties. The high melting temperature, high electrical conductivity, and color and luster of this metal distinguish it from other metals.