Since 3400 B.C., Silver has been used by our ancestors in tool-making and jewelry. Similar to other precious metals such as gold, it can be easily extracted from its core and can be used in many different areas such as in photography, as jewelry, as silverware, and even for medicinal purposes. Although, today, the source of silver has become scarce, there are still adequate silver ores extracted and sold in the market, especially by leading producers such as the United States, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Australia. Because of its numerous useful benefits, silver has become one of the most in demand metals in the market today.
Silver can be extracted directly from its ore or can be a by-product of other precious metals such as gold, copper, and zinc, and lead. With its numerous benefits, it is of no wonder why it is used for different purposes in several areas, one of which is photography. Back when film photography was still abundant and popular, three compounds of silver were used: silver chloride, silver iodide, and silver bromide. However, upon the advent of digital photography, sourcing silver in photography became obsolete. On the other hand, in electronics, silver remains one of the most essential metals needed. Because it is considered as one of the highest level of conductivity, silver is abundant in the manufacture of electronics and appliance.
Silver is even more conductive than copper so it is widely used in the manufacture of power cables, wires, and other circuits. It is also sought as a battery component because of its long life and high energy level. Aside from that, it is also used in the fields of medicine and dentistry. It is typically mixed into dental fillings and used in wound dressings. The silver ion is considered bioactive that prevents and kills bacteria. This same element is also used in clothing such as in socks, to remove foot odor and kill fungi.
But the most common use of silver is for making jewelry. Because of its attractive silver shine, which can be polished, it is one of the most precious metals to be used for aesthetic purposes. It can either be a sterling silver, with an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper; or it can be Britannica silver with an alloy of 95.8% silver. It is often coated with a thin finish of silver, called ‘flashing’, to give more shine to a jewelry and can also be plated with gold and rhodium for added touches. And most importantly, it is one of the widely used metals for creating legal tender in different countries such as the United States.