Sterling Silver Chemical Composition

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Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

Updated on July 26, 2018

Sterling silver is a popular metal for jewelry, silverware, and decorations. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver that consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other metal, usually copper. Fine silver (99.9% pure) typically is too soft for practical objects. Alloying with copper maintains the silvery color of the metal while increasing its strength. However, the copper is much more susceptible to oxidation and corrosion, so sterling silver tarnishes more easily than fine silver.

Other metals that may be used in sterling silver include zinc, platinum, and germanium. Silicon or boron may be added to improve the properties of the metal. Although these metals and additions may improve the resistance of the sterling silver to firesale and tarnish, most sterling silver is still made using copper.

Cite this Article Your Citation

Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Sterling Silver Chemical Composition." ThoughtCo, Jun. 25, 2024, thoughtco.com/sterling-silver-composition-608446. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2024, June 25). Sterling Silver Chemical Composition. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sterling-silver-composition-608446 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Sterling Silver Chemical Composition." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/sterling-silver-composition-608446 (accessed September 10, 2024).

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