Silver, a lustrous white color precious metal has been used to make jewelry for thousands of years along with gold and platinum.

Its chemical symbol is Ag derived from Latin: argentum. Among metals it contains the highest thermal and electrical conductivity and comes about in minerals as well as free form. Silver is widely used in tableware, jewelry, coins, in mirrors and photography.

Silver is, a metal found in combination with arsenic, sulphur, antimony, in native form. Several copper and lead ores contains silver. Besides they are also found associated with gold and cobalt arsenide.

Though silver is used primarily as expensive metal, silver halides and silver nitrate has a wide range of uses in photography.

It also finds its uses in electronic products where superior conductivity is required. Silver make Mirrors that need better reflectivity.

It's being used in coins. The beauty of the metal has made it the most chosen metal for the production of silverware and jewelry.

Where as non-toxicity, malleability, and exquisiteness of silver makes it a useful metal in dental use like for fillings and fittings.

In India, thin layer of silver are used to decorate foods which is known as Varak.

How ever on the negative side silver is supposed to have some ill effects on human health.

Silver itself is non toxic but most of the silver salts are toxic and some may even be carcinogenic.

The largest producers of silver in the world are the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, former-USSR, Australia and Germany.