Name       : Silver
Symbol     : Ag
Atomic #   : 47
Atom weight: 107.868
Melting P. : 961.93
Boiling P. : 2212
Oxidation  : +1
Pronounced : SIL-ver
From       : Name taken from the Anglo-Saxon, siolful, "silver"; Chemical
             symbol, Ag, taken from Latin time, argentium
Identified : The element is of ancient origin
Appearance : Silvery-ductile, and malleable metal
Note       : Considered a precious metal
             
[Properties]

  Silver is a Group-IB metal that appears directly below copper (Cu) and
above gold (Au) on the periodic table of the elements. Pure silver is the
best conductor of heat and electricity.
  Of course it is a silvery metal. Freshly exposed silver is bright and
mirrorlike, but its appearance gradually dulls as a thin oxide coating 
forms on the surfaces. It is ductile and malleable, too. Among other 
things, this means silver is easily hammered or molded into shapes and
can be drawn into very fine wire.
  Jewelry and ornaments made from pure silver would be too expensive for
the ordinary pocketbook, and pure silver utensils would be too soft and
fragile for practice use. The same ideas apply to industrial applications
of the metal. Therefore, silver is usually alloyed with at least one
other metal. The alloying metals not only dilute the silver in order to
make it more economical, but enhance its physical properties as well. The
purity of silver is expressed in terms of its fineness.
  The fineness of a silver alloy is a numerical value that is equal to 10
times the percentage of silver in the mix. Sterling silver, for example,
is about 93% silver and 7% other metals, mostly copper. The fineness of
this alloy is 930. Fine silver jewelry usually has a fineness of 800. Of
course, the fineness rating of pure silver is 1000.