Silver (Ag)
Transition metal · d-block · period 5 · group 11
Brilliant white, highly lustrous metal.
Silver (symbol Ag) is chemical element number 47, a transition metal in group 11, period 5 of the periodic table. Its standard atomic weight is 107.87 and its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s1. At room temperature it is a solid. The best electrical and thermal conductor of any element.
Properties
| Atomic number | 47 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 107.87 |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Block | d-block |
| Group · Period | 11 · 5 |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d10 5s1 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 18, 1 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 1234.93 K |
| Boiling point | 2435 K |
| Density | 10.49 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.93 |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | primordial |
| Discovered | Known since antiquity · Known since antiquity |
Key facts about Silver
- The best electrical and thermal conductor of any element.
- Kills bacteria, so it has been used to keep water and wounds clean for millennia.
- Light-sensitive silver salts made photography possible.
- Tarnishes black by reacting with tiny amounts of sulfur compounds in air.
What Silver is used for
Jewellery and tableware, electrical contacts, mirrors, photography, antibacterial coatings, solar cells.
Where it sits in the periodic table
Silver is in group 11, period 5, of the d-block. Its electron configuration [Kr] 4d10 5s1 means its outermost shell holds 1 electron, which is what places it here and explains much of its chemistry. See Silver on the interactive table →
Silver — frequently asked questions
What is Silver used for?
Jewellery and tableware, electrical contacts, mirrors, photography, antibacterial coatings, solar cells.
Is Silver radioactive?
No. Silver has at least one stable isotope and is not radioactive.
What is the electron configuration of Silver?
Silver has the electron configuration [Kr] 4d10 5s1, which is 2, 8, 18, 18, 1 electrons per shell.
What group and period is Silver in?
Silver is in group 11, period 5, in the d-block. Its outer shell holds 1 electron.
Who discovered Silver?
Silver has been known since ancient times.