SILVER (thumbnail)

Silver, represented by the symbol Ag (from the Latin word argentum, which originates from the Proto-Indo-European term *h₂erǵ meaning 'shiny, white'), is a chemical element with the atomic number 47. This soft, lustrous transition metal is renowned for its exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as its high reflectivity, surpassing that of all other metals. In nature, silver occurs in the Earth's crust in its native form, as well as in alloys with gold and other metals, and within minerals like argentite and chlorargyrite. The majority of silver production comes as a byproduct during the refining processes of copper, gold, lead, and zinc.