Silver is a soft, white chemical element with the symbol Ag with atomic number 47. Silver is a soft , white lustrous transition which is found in the earth’s crust in the pure and free elemental form, as an alloy with gold and other metals. It is used for jewellery and silver tableware which is loved by many of us. It is a precious metal. But why it turns black or its gets tarnished. The first question that come into our mind, Is there anything wrong in the jewellery?
Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion which is formed on metals as a dull grey or black coating that actually protects the inner layers of the metal preventing the inner layer from corrosion. Silver becomes black when it comes into contact with Sulphur or Sulphur compounds present in the atmosphere. Silver reacts with Sulphur present in the atmosphere and forms silver sulphide which is black in colour. This phenomenon is called “tarnishing of silver”. Some soaps also contains Sulphur compounds. So, washing your dishes or hands with that type of soaps wearing a silver ring , may speed up the tarnishing process.