Question

Which gas is responsible for the corrosion of Silver?

Answer 1

1. Silver is a chemical element with an atomic number 47.
2. Silver is a silvery-white soft metal with a shiny surface.
3. It is the most ductile and malleable metal that can be transformed into any other shape.
4. When exposed to the air, Silver is decolourized or tarnished in the presence of air.
5. This happens due to a reaction with Hydrogen sulphide$\left(H_{2}S\right)$ present in the air.
6. The reaction of Silver with Hydrogen sulphide produces Silver sulphide and hydrogen gas.
7. The chemical reaction is as follows:
   $$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to {\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{Silver} \\ \mathrm{sulphide}\mathrm{sulphide} \end{gathered}$$
8. The chemical reaction occurring with Oxygen is represented as:
   $$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\frac{1}{2}{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to {\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{oxide} \end{gathered}$$
9. The products formed Silver sulphide (${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{S}$ ) and Silver oxide (${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}$) corrodes or tarnishes the Silver.
10.