by Roberrific

Created on: February 23, 2007   Last Updated: November 25, 2008

Anyone who collects silver tableware, cutlery or jewelry should know how to identify pure silver when they come across the shiny metal at yard sales or in junk shops. In many cases terrific bargains can be had - at an uninformed merchant's expense!

There are two easy ways to determine if a shiny metal is in fact silver both methods require a chemical reaction to occur on the surface of the substance and then a visual inspection for the presence of silver sulfide (a black stain' on the metal).

FRENCH'S BRAND YELLOW MUSTARD TEST This first method requires that the tester apply a very small amount of French's brand yellow mustard to the surface of the shiny metal. Ideally the mustard drop should then be heated, either in the sun or with a cigarette lighter. Let me explain; this brand of mustard contains a very high amount of sulfur and when heated the volatile sulfur molecule will ALWAYS combine with pure silver to make the dark black stain known as silver sulfide (which is easily cleaned away with vinegar by the way).

THE SULFUR MATCH TEST The second method may attract more attention than desired, especially when attempted inside a store, under a proprietor's watchful gaze. Yet this method is even more effective take a match and press it against the metal surface to be tested and then light it on fire with another match. The sulfur is extremely hot as it combusts and it will certainly combine with pure silver when ignited in this fashion. It will not however mark nickel, steel, or chrome or any other shiny metal the way it marks silver (a black stain). Again this dark metal is silver sulfide it will not wipe away with your finger and must be cleaned off the metal with another agent. Its important to note that both of these tests will not harm the metal and can be easily cleaned away.

A WORD OF CAUTION
Beware of labels that describe types of silver', for example, nickel silver' contains no actual silver. It's just a name for a specific nickel copper alloy. Names like "Mexican Silver", "German Silver," "Indian Silver," "Montana Silver," and even, believe it or not, the word "silver" all by itself do not actually guarantee any silver content. "German Silver" is another name for the alloy of copper, nickel and zinc (it was a derogatory term in the 1800's), and today this blend is called Nickel Silver'. Despite the name, Nickel Silver contains no silver.

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