The Elk Mountain pilot., 1881-03-24
SILVER.

Silver has been known from the
earliest ages; coin of that metal has
been found dating back to 500 B. c.,
and in the pyramids of Egypt linen
stained black BY salts of silver has
been discovered.
The alchemists called it Luna or
Diana, and we still call the fused nj
trate of silver lunar caustic. The
Latin name for it was argentum, from
which We derive the term argentiferous
and the chemical symbol written
"Ag."
Silver is very ducti!e, and the best
conductor Of heat of all the metals
its atomic weight is 1913; its specific
gravity varies 1o.43 to 10. 56-accord-
ing to whether it can be hammered,
drawn, etc. 1t fuses at about 1.S32
degrees F., (Which is lower than the
melting point Of gold or copper, and
can be volatilized by the oxy-hydrogen
fame. In melting it absorbs oxygen
from the air, which it gives off again
in cooling, causing the molten mass
to spit when suddenly cooled. Only
pure silver acts thus.
Pure silver may be obtained crystal
lied in cubes and octahedrons. 1t
dissolyes in nitric acid of medium
concentration concentrated sulphuric
acid changes it into sulphate of silver
at boiling heat, while muratie acid
does not act upon it. Quicksilver
unites with it, forming an amalgam,
and 1t is easily alloyed with many
other metal, during fusion.
The characteristic test for silver in
acid solution is made by adding
muriatic acid or soluble chloride,
when a white curdy precipitate chic.
ridel of silver is formed, insoluble in
water or in acids, but soluble in am
monia, also in cyanide of potassium
OF hyposulphite of soda; from the
ammonical solutions acids preclpitate
ttne chloride OF silver. Very dilute
solutions of silver are refdered opal
lescent on applying this test.
All compounds of silver yield me-
tallic silver when fased with carbonate
Of soda before the blow pipe.
Caustic soda or potassa precipitates
silver from its solution as grayisl1
brown oxide Of silver, insolvble in an
excess Of the precipitant, soluble III
nitric or sulphuric acid.
Ammonia produces the same pre-
cipitate, soluble in an access of the
cipitant and in nitric or sulphuric acid.
Carbonate alkalies produce a pre-
cipitate Of yellowish white carbonate
of silver soluble in carbonate of am
monia and nitric and sulphuric acid.
Sulphureted hydrogen and sulphide
of ammonia produce black precipi-
tate of suiphide of silver, which is de-
composed by boiling nitric acid with
elimina tions of sulphur.
Copper, zinc and other easily oxi-
died metals preclpitate metallic silver
as gray, spongy power, and some or
ganic substances act IN similar man
ner.
Silver is found in its native state
alloyed with gold, and as sulphide OF
silver, frequently with copper glance,
galena and other metallic sulphides,
less frequently as chloride of silver
(horn silver and rarely as iodide or
bromide of silver.
The oldest man in Colo-ado-if not
in the world-has been brought to
light by Denver paper. He lives on
the Purgatoire river and is a Castillian
was born in the City of Mexico in
1870, and is, consequently, now in
his one hundredth and eleventh year.
He has his discharge from the army,
which bears date of 1900. He remem-
bers the close of-the American revo-
luton, and was soldier with mus
ket on his shoulder when Santa Anna
was born. Only think Of it! A man
now living who was playing hooky in