Silver

Real Metals · Uncommon · Timeless

For most of history, silver was the money people actually handled; gold sat in vaults. It also tarnishes, blackening from the faint sulphur in air, in an egg, in a mustard pot, which is why silverware came with a lifetime of polishing. Kept clean, it is the most reflective metal there is.

Identity

Symbol
Ag
Atomic number
47
Source
Natural element
Used in
Electrum, Hepatizon, Mokume-gane, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver, Tumbaga
Also known as
Argentum, Ag
Ores, before industry and since
Acanthite, Chlorargyrite, Freibergite, Galena, Proustite, Pyrargyrite, Silver, Tetrahedrite
Ore deposits
Hydrothermal vein (lode), Porphyry copper deposit, Skarn, Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit, Oxidized zone (gossan)
Used in alchemy
Pure Silver Powder

Physical Properties

Appearance
Brilliant white-grey, highest reflectivity of any metal, tarnishes black in sulfur environments
Luster
Metallic
Density
10.49 g/cm³
Melting point
962 °C
Boiling point
2162 °C
Lighter
Sterling Silver
Denser
Divine Bronze of Hephaestus
Magnetism
Non-magnetic
Electrical conductivity
Very High

Mechanical Properties

Mohs hardness
2.5
Tensile strength
170 MPa
Softer
Tin
Harder
Brass
Workability
Easy
Brittleness
Tough
Malleability
Very High
Ductility
Very High

Chemical Properties

Corrosion resistance
High
Reactivity
Low

Lore & Narrative

In folklore across dozens of cultures, silver is the metal of purity and protection, effective against werewolves, vampires, witches and evil spirits. This may trace to its genuine antimicrobial properties, observed empirically long before germ theory.

Notable uses
Currency, jewelry, photography, electronics, antimicrobial applications
Forge uses
Coinage, Jewelry, Cutlery, Ritual objects
Worldbuilding traits
Purifying, Antimicrobial, Reflective, Folkloric

Sources

Browse the Metal Encyclopedia — MGS Toolbox