Why does silver turn black and how to prevent it?

Silver items are very popular. Such jewelry looks exquisite, often striking with its intricate shapes. Almost every person has silver jewelry. A thin chain or stylish ring, as well as graceful earrings or a massive signet can be seen in a jewelry box. These items may turn black over time. This happens not only during long-term storage, but also when worn. Many are interested in the question of why this happens and whether this is a consequence of health problems, which is confirmed by superstitions. In this article, we'll explore the scientific explanation for this process and explain why silver can change color.

For a long time, people believed in all kinds of omens and superstitions. It was believed that if a silver pectoral cross began to lose its shade, it means that the person was damaged or he was jinxed. If the decoration began to brighten, then the negative impact on the person became less. When the product returned to its original form, it means that the damage has lost its strength. According to legend, silver items are able to protect from the evil eye, evil spirits, therefore they were also used in various rituals. Blackening on jewelry has been explained in different ways.

It took into account which part of the body the jewelry was on, and the type of accessory, and even the age of the person.

1. It was believed that if the ring turns black, then the girl has a vow of celibacy, and matchmakers are unlikely to knock on her.
2. In the event that the chain on the neck or earrings darkens, then the evil eye is on the girl.
3. If the cross on the body changed color, then it was believed that the curse was very strong.
4. When the color of the cross on the neck of a small child changed, the jewelry should be taken to the church and consecrated again to protect the baby.
5. If the silverware became darker, they said that there was negative energy in the house, which indicates the presence of evil spirits.

Previously, it was believed that products begin to blacken, if a person is sick. This is partly true. With hormonal, endocrine and other disorders, a person begins to sweat more, which leads to a stronger interaction of the sebaceous glands with sweat. The interaction of sulfur-containing compounds leads to a change in the shade of the products. Silver oxidation occurs when the metal reacts with hydrogen sulfide and oxygen.

In its pure form, silver is practically not used for making jewelry, because this metal is quite soft. It is usually customary to mix harder metals such as copper. It is not uncommon for silver to darken if a person sweats frequently. When copper, which is part of the jewelry, interacts with the sulfur contained in sweat, a chemical reaction begins to occur, as a result of which the products begin to become covered with a patina, that is, to darken.

In the event that a person does not have health problems, then the amount of sweat he excretes is normal, and the oxidative reaction does not occur. But if sweat begins to stand out more intensely, then the product on the body begins to change its color. Such situations can intensify oxidation.

1. Stress.
2. Physical exercises. With active sports, sweating increases, which leads to an increase in the concentration of sulfates. This causes the jewelry to darken more quickly.
3. High humidity... Then the evaporation of sweat slows down, so the concentration of sulfur salts increases. Based on this, oxidation begins to occur, which leads to a change in the color of the product.
4. The presence of a large number of various impurities in products. Silver fineness also plays a significant role. 925 sterling silver items are usually less susceptible to oxidation. The higher the sample, the less corrosive it will be. The content of impurities determines how long the product will be worn without changing color.

Silver, which has a low fineness, begins to darken faster, and oxidation begins to occur even when it comes into contact with food or when the air contains sulfur compounds.

In addition to sulfates, sweat contains nitric acid salts. When interacting with nitrates, silver sulfide begins to break down, and the product quickly changes its dark color to light.

If silver accessories start to darken, they should be cleaned. Those people who believe in superstition should go to church. In the event that the person also felt unwell, one should not postpone the visit to the doctor. Silver jewelry can be cleaned in a jewelry workshop or you can do it yourself at home. Used for cleaning special pastesthat can be purchased with the purchase of the jewelry. In addition, there are other tools at hand that are used to eliminate darkening of the metal.

Baking soda found in every home. It is she who is most often used for cleaning accessories. To do this, pour a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass and add warm water to it. The product is dipped into the soda solution and kept there for 30 minutes.After the item is taken out, washed with running water and cleaned with a toothbrush.

There is another proven method for cleaning products with this soda.

1. You need to take a small aluminum saucepan and pour 100 ml of water into it.
2. Then 1 tsp is poured into the container. soda.
3. A silver jewelry is dipped into a saucepan so that it is completely covered with water.
4. The container is put on fire, after boiling, keep on fire for 1-2 minutes. At this time, the product begins to change its color and becomes lighter.

You can use a similar method. For cleaning, water is poured into a saucepan, soda is added and a decoration, previously wrapped in aluminum foil, is dipped into boiled water. It is necessary to let the foil boil a little and turn off the heat after 1-2 minutes. After that, the silver accessory is washed from sediment and wiped with a napkin.

To remove dirt and plaque, toothpaste is also used. It contains a large amount of abrasive micro-polishing particles that will help get rid of patina. The toothpaste is applied to a soft toothbrush and used to polish jewelry.

Silver processing ammonia or ammonia solution allows you to quickly clean the accessory. For the procedure, you need to take a container and pour a little ammonia into it. A product that has lost its color is placed in a jar and left for 10-12 minutes. After the allotted time, the decoration is taken out and washed with running water, then dried.

You can clean the products GOI paste. These products are often used to polish silver. The paste should be applied to a piece of soft cloth and the surface should be gently treated.

To quickly get rid of the patina, the usual lipstick... The presence of titanium dioxide and a large amount of fat in the composition allows you to quickly remove plaque from silver accessories. After the procedure, the products look new, while shine appears. For cleaning, you need to spread the product with lipstick, then take a toothbrush and polish it. This method is more suitable for models without rhinestones and stones.

Often silver rhodium platedto add durability to the product. Such jewelry looks more sophisticated, their shine is enhanced. Radiated silver is cleaned using special liquids intended for this. For cleaning, use napkins or a velvet cloth dipped in warm water.

Will help remove patina from rhodium-plated products soap trays. To do this, immerse the product in a soapy solution for 5-10 minutes, then take it out and rub it. Accessories with stones are washed under warm running water, then polished with a soft cloth. If the plaque is strong enough, place the item in a container of soapy water for 20-30 minutes, then rinse and polish it.

For rhodium plated products, do not use cleaning with ammonia, soda or toothpasteotherwise they may lose their luster. You can wipe the accessories with cotton swabs moistened with glycerin.

Gilded items are cleaned in the same way. For these purposes, suitable using ammonia, peroxide, toothpaste, or soapy water... In addition to the usual, there are also non-traditional methods of cleaning products. You can lighten decorations coca cola, it is not for nothing that the drink is considered a good absorbent and solvent. For cleaning, a container with Coca-Cola is put on fire and a chain or other object that needs cleaning is placed there and allowed to boil for 5-10 minutes. Cold Coke is also used for these purposes. In order for the jewelry to regain its original appearance, you need to throw the accessory into a glass with a drink and keep the product there for 5-8 hours.After the allotted time, the decoration is taken out, washed with water and wiped.

Silver items can last a long time, especially if they are properly cared for.

1. Silver is a soft metal and therefore deforms. In addition, it loses its color and darkens under the influence of moisture and chemical processes.
2. Silver jewelry is recommended regularly to polish and clean.
3. They should take off while visiting the shower and sauna. The rings should be removed when washing dishes.
4. Do not wear jewelry for sports training.
5. Keep silver accessories are best in a separate box. The jewelry is stored separately, it is better to keep them so that they do not touch. Items not worn daily should be stored in a sealed box. Also for this purpose, foil is used, which will protect against negative external factors.
6. It is important to there was no high humidity in the roomotherwise the chains and rings will darken soon.

Many people recommend covering accessories with a special jewelry varnish. Thanks to this, they begin to shine more, their appearance improves. Keeping silver items in their original form will allow them to last much longer.

For information on how to clean silver at home, see the next video.