Silver 999

It is believed that pure silver, which has been given a 999 standard, cannot be made into jewelry or practical utensils. This is largely due to the natural softness of the metal. In the old days, silver was considered a sacred metal, and even today it is valued on a par with gold, especially luxurious jewelry. The metal has some peculiarities, as well as interesting properties and composition. Before buying silverware, including bullion, we recommend that you first study the characteristics of the material and read useful information about it.

Silver, also called argentum by chemists, can be easily found in the periodic table. Many people know this element since school days. Pure silver is a malleable, ductile and heavy metal with a light silvery hue. It is mined in many large countries of the world, including Russia. Over time, pure metal or in products is able to change its shade (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 minting coins, for industrial purposes, as well as in the creation of jewelry, but the latter applies only to metal of a certain standard. It is impractical to make jewelry out of 999-grade metal, as they will be very fragile and extremely problematic to care for, and it is extremely difficult for jewelers to work with them.

The purest silver of 999 standard is so plastic that from one gram of it you can stretch a thread for more than 10 km. Another interesting fact is that scientists have found silver on meteorites from space. It is extremely difficult to find pure nuggets of metal in nature; they are most often mined with impurities.And only after some manipulations and special processing can you get the final, almost pure product (99.9%).

The fineness 999 indicates how much pure alloy is contained in the metal. In pure silver of the highest standard, impurities are practically absent, and if there are, then their amount is very insignificant. Silver belongs to the 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:

• the melting point is over 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.

In air, pure metal should not darken, but over time, its contamination is not excluded. Also, pure metal can darken if the air is contaminated with hydrogen sulfide.

Pure silver is often used for scientific purposes, especially in chemistry and physics. Basically, silver 999 is used:

• for medical purposes, including prosthetics and dentistry;
• when creating medical products (biological additives);
• when creating accumulating 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, using this metal, water is purified. It is believed that if a silver coin is placed in a glass of water, it will have a disinfecting and bactericidal effect. But many experts are rather skeptical about such cleansing.

Due to the fact that silver has a high plasticity, it is used for a variety of technical products and devices. Bars are also made from pure silver, which are sold by many banks. People buy them for a profitable investment. You can also find various coins from pure silver, which are often issued 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, 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.

The price per gram most often depends on the exchange rate, and the final price tag is usually set by banks. The price for a kilogram of 999 sample of silver is on average about 35-37 thousand rubles.

The same applies to the delivery of silver to the pawnshop: it is accepted cheaper than it is sold.

The average price per gram in a pawnshop usually varies between 34-36 rubles, but in many respects the amount depends on the region of sale, and even on the whole from the country. 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 a 999 standard. Usually a quality certificate of authenticity goes with the ingots. Calculating the final price will not be difficult.

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 will do, in which metal will be the safest. It is advisable to protect the product from direct sunlight.

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, the products should be wiped dry.

There are also recipes for washing silver using handy home remedies such as baking soda, but these can damage the outer layer of coins. It is not recommended to experiment in this case.

In the next video, you will learn how to determine the authenticity of silver at home.