Jewelry has not been perceived for a long time only as an addition to the image. Sometimes they themselves dictate which dress to wear or which shoes to give preference. For some, jewelry is a kind of investment; for others, it is the memory of those who donated a product or wore it earlier. Certain tastes have already taken shape in the world. Some argue that there is no metal more valuable than gold. People of the opposite opinion defend the virtues and charm of silver. Perhaps there would be much more fans of the second metal, if not for the particular care that he requires. Without them, you will be faced with the question of why silver turns yellow. There are both quite logical reasons and explanations, and mystical ones connected with various signs.
Popular beliefs
Progress has forced many of us to abandon superstition. Perhaps this is correct, but one should not deny that people tried to put deep meaning into signs.
It is wiser to perceive them as a kind of practical advice. It is not necessary to assume that something bad will happen to you, but it will not be out of place to think about whether we are too careless about ourselves. Often the frantic rhythm of life carries away and we forget about our health and proper nutrition.
Here are a few signs about why silver turns yellow or darkens:
- Jewelry that a person wears daily, have become dark? This is a sign of a health problem. Another reason could be the damage to it. As soon as a person begins to recover or remove the damage, silver will brighten.
- If the household silver utensils began to turn black, this is a signal that an unclean power has appeared in the dwelling.
However, signs give only a mystical explanation for this phenomenon. Let's move on to scientifically based reasons.
What is silver?
This metal occupies a significant place among the precious and is included in the noble group. Using it as a material for the manufacture of jewelry and other products dates back a millennium.
The attractiveness and popularity of precious metals lies not only in their beautiful appearance. From ancient times, people drew attention to the fact that things made from them are completely not subject to corrosion, and if they were exposed to alkalis, the surface of the products was not covered with a coating.
The secret of such invulnerability of precious metals is a high degree of resistance to chemical influences of the surrounding world. However, silver turns yellow. Why is this happening?
Reasons for change
Specialists were able to identify a number of factors that can trigger a color change in silver. Basically, the reasons lie in the chemical effect of sulfur and other substances on it:
- Human intake of medicines, use of cosmetics, building materials, which contain bromine and iodine. Compounds that form on the surface of a silver product can cause yellow. If you do not put things in order, then over time it will begin to blacken.
- The presence in the air masses of sulfur, which is released from objects made of special rubber. These include clothing, shoes, furniture fittings.
- The reaction that occurs under the influence of sulfur compounds. Their presence in the air masses often leads to the fact that they are mixed with precipitation, for example, rain, while forming acids. Their contact with a silver product negatively affects its condition.
- Why does silver turn yellow on the body? The reason for this phenomenon may be the presence of sulfur compounds in the surrounding household items: cardboard, wrapping paper, clothing. They do not decay, and after some time they begin to stand out in the air. Settling on silver, they provoke the formation of yellow plaque.
- Contact of sulfur and sodium thiosulfate can also change the color of jewelry. It is the second component that is often present in food products. It acts as an oxidizing agent or complexing agent. It is applicable in the textile industry.
- If you are wondering “why silver turns yellow and what does it mean,” take into account that a considerable amount of industrial waste is thrown into the air every day. They can cause a discoloration of the product.
However, not only due to sulfur and its contact with other substances, the color of this noble metal changes. There are a couple more reasons that can also affect this.
- Why does silver turn yellow on a person? The reason sometimes lies in problems with human health. Sweat, breathing and other secretions from our body contribute to the formation of yellow plaque.
- Spoiled silver is a sign that the product may be of poor quality. There are unscrupulous manufacturers of utensils and jewelry that give out a fake made of copper and bronze for silver. In order to verify the authenticity of the metal, it is worth giving it for examination.
Do not postpone cleaning silver for a long time. If you notice a yellow coating on the surface of the product, you need to urgently clean it. Subsequently, it will darken until the metal finally blackens. Then returning it to its original form will be quite difficult, and you risk losing your favorite thing.
Metal purity
In order not to worry about whether you have real silver in the future, you should pay special attention to its choice. Purchase products only from trusted brands or jewelers. In factories, the metal is cleaned in a special way to minimize the amount of impurities.
However, to look for the purest silver as possible does not mean to completely protect yourself from problems with it. In this case, another minus may arise - excessive brittleness of the metal. Yes, you will save yourself from the search for the answer to the question of why the silver on the finger turns yellow, but the jewelry can simply break or bend. That is why manufacturers mix this metal with others: gold, platinum or nickel.
A few rules of care
Having learned why silver turns yellow, you can at least partially avoid this, but you should remember about the rules for caring for this material, which will help to maintain the appearance of your favorite things longer.
It is necessary to store the jewelry in a wooden, tight-fitting box, inside of which there will be a natural canvas made of cotton or linen. After using a silver product, it should be washed well with warm water and soap or soda. To avoid plaque, wipe things from time to time with a flannel cloth.
You can clean the jewelry using lipstick. They lubricate the product with it, and then wipe it with a cotton pad. Another effective remedy is toothpaste.
Conclusion
Jewelry and other products made of precious metals do not cease to please the eye to this day. However, their appearance can be preserved only by mastering a simple but necessary care for them. Then any product will look luxurious.