Silver is an amazing jewelery metal that hides in itself a huge healing power. Since ancient times, this type of metal has been widely used in the manufacture of dishes, jewelry, ritual utensils. All these products are in demand to this day. Therefore, if you decide to purchase any product from silver, you certainly need to know its authenticity. Let's try to figure out the signs and how to recognize silver at home.
We learn how to recognize silver at home in terms of its properties
Pure silver, as a rule, compared with other metals is characterized by a high coefficient of thermal conductivity. In other words, the degree of its heating depends on the quality of the silver. Recognize the authenticity of the silver product can be lowered into a hot water product of silver and silver (suitable melchior spoon). Products made of silver must be heated very quickly, on cancellation from the nickel silver. By the way, instead of boiling water, you can simply hold the items in your hand and feel its temperature during the heating process.
Tests for determining the authenticity of silver at home
- Remember that if you rub a silver product with a soft and clean white cloth, it should have a dark trail. In this case, the authenticity of the metal raises doubts. First of all, this is due to the fact that this metal is not oxidized by interaction with oxygen, but can actively interact with sulfur-containing compounds that are present in human secretions, because of what silver darkens during socks.
- You can also recognize quality silver with a magnet. This is due to the fact that this jewelry metal is a diamagnetic material. After doing this test, you will be able to determine the amount of nickel and iron impurities in silver.
- Sulfur ointment is another method to check silver at home. You should smear the product with sulfuric ointment, which can be purchased at any pharmacy, after which it is necessary to leave the metal for a couple of hours. As a result, with a real silver product, the place where the ointment was applied should be given a black shade.
- By the way, in addition to sulfuric ointment, chalk and iodine can be used for these purposes. As a rule, the reaction to these reagents does not differ from that which occurs when sulfuric ointment is used.
- Another way to distinguish silver from counterfeiting in the home is to rub the product with clean hands. If there is no trace left on your palms, this indicates that the metal is of high quality. But in case you get your hands dirty, then there are zinc impurities in silver.
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The most accurate test of silver testing is considered to be the use of nitric acid. For this test, you should choose the most inconspicuous place on your product, which is not very noticeable and lightly scratch it, taking off the possible protective coating. Then it is necessary to drop a few drops of nitric acid into this place. Metals such as nickel silver, silver plated brass, or a low quality silver alloy will turn green. This is due to the fact that there is an increased level of copper contained. But sterling silver in the process of this test will find a cream color, and, finally, pure silver will turn into a black shade. - An ordinary sewing needle is also useful. Take the needle and lightly scratch the product. A layer of sputtering will drop from it, which will expose the metal. As a rule, brass is used, which has a red tint.
And lastly, if you decide to buy a silver product, but doubt whether the metal from which it is made to the present, in order to avoid an untidy misunderstanding, pay attention to the presence of a sample and the brand of metal.