3. Uses and substitutions

Silver is a precious metal that has become a much more important industrial metal than gold, three quarters of which is used in the jewelry industry. Industrial applications are either due to a very specific property, such as the photosensitivity of silver salts used in photography, or to a combination of properties, first and foremost its excellent electrical conductivity. The main applications are listed in table 4 .

The industries concerned by these uses are as follows:

• the chemical industry: silver is highly resistant to the action of alkalis and bases, and acts as a catalyst in a number of reactions (combustion of carbon monoxide, manufacture of acetic acid and phenols). Silver cyanide is the salt used for electroplating and nitrate for the manufacture...