Read the following article about silver, and then answer the questions on the opposite page.
SILVER
Silver has been regarded as something precious for thousands of years. There is evidence that it was highly prized in ancient times, and was used for making plates for rich people. By 700 BCE, it was used to make coins. The production of silver grew over the centuries, but when Europeans first went to America, silver began to be used in many new and different ways.
Discoveries of silver across the world and new technologies meant that the mining of silver continued to grow rapidly everywhere. The weight of silver is measured in troy ounces. By the 19th century, nearly 120 million troy ounces were being produced annually. Now, more than 5000 years after ancient cultures first began to mine this precious metal, an average of 671 million troy ounces is mined every year.
Countries Producing Silver
In earlier times, silver was thought to have magical properties and it was considered to be useful in keeping bad spirits away. Nowadays, most people think of silver in relation to jewellery. The fact is, however, that silver has many more uses than just looking decorative. It is probably only now that we are discovering all the possible ways in which silver can be used.
People have known about the anti-bacterial properties of silver for a long time. The ancient Phoenicians kept water, wine and vinegar in silver vessels to ensure freshness. It is only recently, however, that scientists have discovered how silver works. Quite simply, silver destroys the ability of bacteria to form the chemical bonds which are essential to their survival. When bacteria and silver come into contact, the bacterial cells fall apart. Today, there are bandages and ointments that use silver as an active ingredient. Silver promotes the growth of new cells, which in turn increases the rate of healing. This makes silver especially valuable for treating burns and wounds.
Another key use for silver is in the millions of water purifiers that are sold each year. Silver prevents bacteria from building up in filters so that they can work effectively. Research has shown that silver, together with oxygen, cleans water. This means that other chemicals, such as chlorine, do not have to be used. Silver is therefore starting to be added to water purification systems in hospitals, community water systems and swimming pools. Scientists hope that silver will be able to be used in helping to produce clean drinking water in countries where water-borne illness is a problem. Current research shows that this use of silver is an exciting development for the global water supply.
In the past, silver was often used to decorate places of worship, and many people saw it when they went to pray. Today, there is probably much more silver around us, but we do not necessarily see it. For example, every time you travel in a motor vehicle you are surrounded by pieces of silver. Every electrical action in a modern car is activated with silver-coated contacts. Basic functions such as starting the engine and opening power windows all need a special switch that has a silver covering. Another important feature for our driving safety is the silver-ceramic lines fitted into the rear window. The heat created by these lines clears the rear window of mist and ice so that we can see clearly out of it.
Silver is just as valuable today as it has been throughout human history.