Silver is a
chemical element with symbol
Ag (
árguros, , both from the
Indo-European root *h₂erǵ- for "grey" or "shining") and
atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous
transition metal, it possesses the highest
electrical conductivity,
thermal conductivity and
reflectivity 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.
