Basic properties of silver

Silver is one of the precious metals known to people for over 5 thousand years. It has been known since ancient times that it has a host of different properties, both chemical and esoteric. What is known today about silver and what its properties have been scientifically proven, we will tell in this article.

Silver is a metal that is in the first section of the periodic table at 47 positions. Its second name is Argentum (Argentum). The science of chemistry says that silver is not just a metal, but an element consisting of two isotopes. This is precisely what explains its such properties.

1. High ductility and high temperature resistance.
2. Long half-life, which can be up to 130 years.
3. Influenced by hydrogen sulfide. As a result, silver and many products made from it often begin to darken, but plaque is easily removed from them.
4. It is Argentum that is resistant to the effects of various alkaline solutions, on the contrary, they allow it to return its original shine and radiance.

Exactly the main compounds of this metal and are responsible for the fact that silver does not come into contact with oxygen, but is destroyed under the influence of only 4 acids - sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, hydrobromic.

The following are considered the most important physical properties of this white metal today.

1. Softness and plasticity... These two indicators are inextricably linked.It is thanks to their tandem that silver is considered the best material for creating tableware, jewelry, amulets, figurines and other household items. Some medical instruments are also impossible to make without using it.
2. High density. This indicator puts silver and lead on the same level. There is simply no other valuable metal with such a high value (10.5 units per cubic centimeter).
3. Its melting point is just above 960 degrees Celsius.... This figure for the precious metals category is quite low.
4. Compatible with other metals. This feature is closely related to the previous one. So, silver is often used to create various alloys, both jewelry and surgical. Usually connects argentum and copper, argentum and steel, or even gold and silver. The characteristics of each alloy will be individual, depending on the proportions of each metal in it.

It is also important to know that silver is a soft white metal, and its key characteristic is its tendency to wear off quickly... At first glance, very minor mechanical damage can leave a strong mark on it. Even jewelry made only of this metal becomes noticeably thinner over time and their weight decreases.

Even in ancient times, the moonstone (and this is what silver was called earlier) was endowed with a lot of properties, including healing... Over time, many of them have been refuted by science, but those that have received confirmation have remained. So, the effectiveness of silver in antibacterial therapy has been proven. Silver-enriched water is completely purified from pathogens and is often used to create various medicinal water infusions, for example, on the shungite mineral.

The story of the soldiers of Alexander the Great is also noteworthy. During one of the campaigns, ordinary soldiers began to die, several people a day. They all had identical symptoms - diarrhea, weakness, and nausea. But the higher ranks felt great, although they all ate the same thing and slept in the same conditions. And only the alchemist was able to figure out the reason - the military leaders drank from silver cups, while ordinary soldiers - from wooden or copper. This is where antibiotic therapy is at hand.

Also professional medical masks also use inserts made of silver threads, which also allows us to speak about the high efficiency of this metal in the fight against infections. The beneficial properties of silver have been proven and in cosmetology. For example, many skin care products marketed as medical products contain a minimum concentration of silver. It helps to improve skin tone and firmness, get rid of breakouts and acne, and prevent the appearance of wrinkles.

It is also noteworthy that today, there is no scientific explanation for the biological properties of silver, except for its effectiveness in antibacterial therapy. Moreover, in the body of every adult, the amount of this substance reaches several tenths of a gram. True, for what purpose and how silver appears in the body on its own, no one has been able to explain so far. But at the same time, all these beneficial properties of silver in treatment can be manifested in full at its minimum concentration. Today it has been unequivocally proven that high silver content or prolonged contact with its salts is very dangerous - a disease such as argyria may occur.

Even water enriched with silver, with its increased concentration, turns from a therapeutic agent into poison. Therefore, despite the positive aspects of Argentum, doctors still recommend not using it yourself for the treatment of any diseases. And any preparations containing silver ions in their composition can be used only after consultation with a specialist.

It is silver that is one of the few, if not the only, metal that endowed with a huge sacred meaning. Since its discovery, the moonstone has been positioned as a magical metal that performs many functions, the main of which is a protective shield. It is the various silver amulets were and are still considered the most effective. They can have both a general sense of protection, and they can be designed to protect a certain area of ​​life - business, health or love.

In addition, if you delve deeper into the study of various legends and beliefs associated with silver, it becomes clear that all the existing evil spirits of this light and even divine metal are most afraid of all - vampires, harpies, werewolves. All of them die at the sight or contact with him. Often, it is the various ritual objects such as bowls, knives, daggers or pendulums that are made from argentum. This is explained quite simply - it is silver that is the best conductor to another world. It makes it much easier to tune in the right mood and establish the necessary contact with spirits or higher powers.

For the same reason priests of many cultures, as well as people interested in or even practicing magic rituals, wear talismans or jewelry made of silver. They are also confident that it is precisely such jewelry that helps to reveal their sacred abilities, develop intuition and the gift of foresight, especially if amulets combine silver and stones such as labradorite and lapis lazuli.

Argentum is called the moonstone for a reason. The fact is that in alchemy this metal is designated as a crescent moon, and a crescent moon is the moon, besides, the color of silver is very similar to the color of the moon. Many dedicated people know that rituals must be carried out at a certain phase of the moon, and if silver is also used, the result is significantly improved. Few people know that silver is the metal of all lovers. In the old days, wedding rings were made not of gold, but of copper or Argentum. It was customary to make two rings from one piece of metal - two hearts joined into one.

But despite all the beneficial properties, silver in large doses, like many other drugs, becomes a poison.

People who work with silver and its salts for a long time can cause significant harm to their health.

• serious burns of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and stomach... Caustic vapors of salt in high concentrations are very dangerous. In such cases, only intensive care in hospitals will help.
• argyria. This is a disease in which the body does not produce melanin, and silver vapors color the skin gray, green or even purple. The worst thing is that it is impossible to recover, as well as return the skin to its previous appearance. In this case, the patient himself may not experience any unpleasant sensations.

For how silver jewelry affects a person, see the next video.