The chemistry of Pyrogallic Acid has been described at [page 28].
SEL D'OR. See [Gold, Hyposulphite of].
SILVER.
Symbol, Ag. Atomic weight, 108.
This metal, the Luna or Diana of the alchemists, is found native in Peru and Mexico; it occurs also in the form of Sulphuret of Silver.
When pure it has a sp. gr. of 10·5, and is very malleable and ductile; melts at a bright red heat. Silver does not oxidize in the air, but when exposed to an impure atmosphere containing traces of Sulphuretted Hydrogen, it is slowly tarnished from formation of Sulphuret of Silver. It dissolves in Sulphuric Acid, but the best solvent is Nitric Acid.
The standard coin of the realm is an alloy of Silver and Copper, containing about one-eleventh of the latter metal.
To prepare pure Nitrate of Silver from it, dissolve in Nitric Acid and evaporate until crystals are obtained. Then wash the crystals with a little dilute Nitric Acid, redissolve them in water, and crystallize by evaporation a second time. Lastly, fuse the product at a moderate heat, in order to expel the last traces of Nitric and Nitrous Acids.