9781422279502

protons and neutrons in the nucleus of one atom of an element, the number of electrons that surround the nucleus, the atomic mass, and the general size of the atom. It is also possible to predict which state of matter an element is designated by a chemical symbol—the letters that represent the element. The periodic table is a very useful tool as one begins to investigate chemistry and science in general. (For lots more on the periodic table, read Understanding the Periodic Table , an- other book in this series.) This book is about the element silver. Silver, which has been highly prized for centuries, has 47 protons and 47 electrons. Silver is a solid under standard conditions. How is silver a part of our lives? It’s what turns a piece of glass into a mirror, to give one everyday example, and some of your jewelry might contain the soft, shiny metal. Because it was used in the past to make U.S. currency, you may even own a few old silver coins. You might not realize that silver is also a component in many electronic devices, appliances, medicines, and other products that we regularly count on. Modern life, as we know it, would be very different without silver.

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The Chemistry of Everyday Elements