Gems, Precious Stones, Precious Metals - Silver

Silver - Gem Color 21 - #C0C0C0

Silver is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag (Greek: árguros, Latin: argentum, both from the Indo-European root "grey" or "shining") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it possesses the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.

The metal occurs naturally in its pure, free form (native silver), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a byproduct of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining.

Silver has long been valued as a precious metal, used in currency coins, to make ornaments, jewelry, high-value tableware and utensils. Silver, in the form of electrum (a gold - silver alloy), was coined to produce money around 700 BC by the Lydians.