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Feb
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Silver has never had quite the significance of its more-esteemed cousin, gold. First-place champions get the gold while second-place finishers have to settle for the silver medal. Sure, silver has never been anything to sneeze at in terms of value, but it fails to get the credit and status it deserves as a precious metal. In reality, silver is the true workhorse of precious metals.
While silver metal was constantly needed in the film and photography industry before digital cameras became all the rage, silver is still used in the X-ray industry today. Silver-halide film is also used in the movie and film making business.
Sterling silver is as popular today as it ever was in the making of silverware, while silver coatings are used to manufacture cheaper types of flatware. Hearing aids and watches need silver-oxide batteries to operate, and laptops and cell phones are frequently utilizing silver-oxide batteries instead of lithium-ion type batteries.
Silver-containing products are often seen as less harmful to the environment and people than such hazards as lithium-ion batteries or harsh chemicals. Silver is naturally anti-bacterial, so it is particularly useful as a means to protect water from a build-up of bacteria. Swimming pools, spas, and residential water purifiers all benefit from silver.
Look for silver to be used in industry in new ways in the future. It can be employed in a variety of ways, but some of the possibilities are yet undiscovered.
Yes, gold is beautiful. However, for everyday value and performance, silver is a real champion, and deserves a first place medal in metals.