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Silver (play /'s?lv?r/) is a metallic chemical element with
the chemical symbol Ag (Latin: argentum, from the
Indo-European root *arg- for "grey" or "shining") and atomic
number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has
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, and it is
used to make ornaments, jewelry, high-value tableware,
utensils (hence the term silverware), and currency coins.
Today, silver metal is also used in electrical contacts and
conductors, in mirrors and in catalysis of chemical reactions.
Its compounds are used in photographic film and dilute silver
nitrate solutions and other silver compounds are used as
disinfectants and microbiocides. While many medical
antimicrobial uses of silver have been supplanted by
antibiotics, further research into clinical potential
continues.
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