Silver darkens with water. How to clean blackness from a silver chain

09.08.2019

Silver products have always been particularly popular. But unfortunately, this alloy tends to change its color over time. According to the scientific version, the reason for the darkening of silver is chemical exposure air to the sulfide it contains. But since ancient times, people have believed that clouded metal is a sign of the evil eye, damage, serious illness and negative influence.

There are several versions explaining why silver on the human body turns black, many of which are associated specifically with folk superstitions. Since ancient times it was believed that the alloy has miraculous power and protects against negative impact, and silver things were used in religious ceremonies.

Science explains the reason for the darkening of the alloy by the presence of sulfur coming into contact with silver. Medicine, in turn, believes that the reason for the tarnishing of metal lies in the state of health, as it interacts with bacteria through a certain chemical process.

Impact of dark forces

Silver has been considered a symbol since ancient times spiritual beauty and purity, which is why church attributes were made from it. If you believe the legends, then with the help of noble metal you can fight evil spirits. Even today it is believed that this unique alloy is a natural amulet against negative energy and protects against damage, love spells, the evil eye, evil and envious people.

Signs and superstitions

Our ancestors believed that silver products have a unique ability to absorb negativity, thereby protecting its owner from the effects evil spirits. If the silver jewelry has darkened, it means that the owner managed to avoid serious troubles.

Damage or evil eye

According to magicians, an indifferent attitude towards the world around him, malaise, lack of appetite, irritation indicates that a person is under the influence dark force. The influence of black magic can be determined by the silver jewelry:

Ring. Talks about big failures on the love front. For a girl this means the crown of celibacy, for a man it means a love spell.
Earrings. Indicates the evil eye.
Chain. Damage.
Cross. Strong curse, sometimes even “to death.”
Dishes. The presence of evil spirits in the house, perhaps some damage was done.

Thus, darkened silver seems to suggest that it took a negative blow and protected its owner from evil spells.

Health problems

According to doctors, silver can darken due to malfunctions endocrine system, this happens primarily due to increased sweating. Sweat contains large amounts
hydrogen sulfide, upon contact with which a chemical reaction occurs in the alloy, and the metal begins to change its color. If sweating is normal, oxidation occurs unnoticed and dark plaque appears gradually.

Increased sweating does not always indicate any disease. Sweating can also be caused by physical activity and active sports. But if silver quickly gained dark shade, it is better, of course, to turn to specialists.

According to science, there is no mysticism in the darkening of metal. Oxygen, interacting with sulfur compounds, enters into a complex reaction. Oxidation occurs as a result of this, so the color of the alloy changes.

What enhances the oxidation of silver?

Cosmetics such as shampoos, soaps, creams, when they come into contact with jewelry, accelerate the oxidation process of silver. Usually this happens slowly, and the alloy changes its color gradually, but there are factors that enhance this effect.

Stress, sport and bath

Physical activity, stress, nervous strain, going to the bathhouse increase work sebaceous glands, which promotes increased sweating. With an intensified process, the content of sulfide concentrate also increases, which means that the oxidation process occurs much faster, the result is that the decoration loses its original appearance and it gets dark.

Low purity and impurities

Premature discoloration of silver items can occur due to the high content of impurities that are added to the alloy. Natural silver itself is too soft to make the product more durable; other noble metals are added to it. If more of a component is added than required, the alloy will turn out to be of poor quality, which means it will quickly darken.

For jewelry, 925 sterling silver with a small addition of copper is usually used. It is less prone to darkening, but copper, when in contact with sweat, interacts with sulfur salts, forming a blackish coating on the surface of the alloy.

Increased air humidity

Too much air humidity can have a big impact on appearance silverware. With increased humidity, the process of sweat evaporation slows down and the concentration of sulfur salts increases. By entering into a complex reaction with them, silver sulfide oxidizes, and the jewelry quickly begins to darken.

Interestingly, sweat can also cause lightening of products, since it contains Nitric acid. When it interacts with silver sulfide, it destroys it, that is, it changes the color of the alloy from dark to light.

How to avoid tarnishing of silver?

To avoid darkening of silver jewelry, you must follow simple recommendations:

do not wear them in a bathhouse or sauna;
do not wear products when sick;
remove silver when cleaning at home;
store jewelry separately from others.

How and with what to clean?

You can easily clean silver yourself using special means that are sold in the store household chemicals. But if the decoration is expensive stones, then it’s better to take it to a jewelry workshop so as not to accidentally spoil it.

Cleaning products

Before cleaning, the product must be rinsed under a thin stream of warm water, dried and polished using wool fabric or a special napkin. With more heavy pollution you should soak the decoration in warm water with addition laundry soap for several hours, then rinse, dry and gently polish.

Folk recipes

An effective means for cleaning silver jewelry is tooth powder. Him in small quantity apply to slightly damp soft cloth and with very careful movements, so as not to scratch, clean the products.

Ammonia is a good way to remove blackness from silver. In a half liter container with warm water add a little laundry soap and a tablespoon of ammonia. The product is left for 20 minutes, rinsed, then wiped dry with a napkin.

Unfortunately, nature works in such a way that it is impossible to rid silver of dark deposits forever. It is very important to properly care for your silver jewelry after cleaning to ensure maximum long time do not allow darkening.

If you believe that the darkening of silver is associated with damage or the evil eye, it is advisable to go to church. And if you have health problems, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Tarnished silver items simply need to be cleaned and proper care will help maintain their proper appearance for a long time.

Everyone, at least once in their life, has encountered a situation where a black coating appears on silver jewelry over time. Of course, you can get rid of it by cleaning the silver with tooth powder, toothpaste, or wiping it with a special solution, but why does it appear in the first place? Why do they turn black? silver jewelry on the human body?

Chemical interaction

If we consider blackening from the point of view of chemical processes, then silver, like many other metals, is susceptible to oxidation. The whole “secret” of blackening lies in the interaction of silver with another chemical element - sulfur. It is found in human sweat, water, air and cosmetics.

Since the composition of sweat is individual for each person, the same silver jewelry on someone may turn black in a few days, but on another it will not turn black at all or will darken very slightly over a long period of time.

First, a thin gray film appears on the silver product after interacting with sulfur, and after some time it darkens.

The darkening of silver and the speed of this process also depends on the composition of the jewelry. Neither gold nor silver is used to create jewelry. pure form, since these metals are very soft and easily deformed. That is why various metals are added to the alloy, for example, platinum, gold, copper, zinc and others. And the less in the composition pure silver, the more susceptible it is to oxidation.

The globally accepted share of silver in alloys for making jewelry is considered to be 92.5%, that is, the standard 925 standard that is familiar to us. This alloy is optimal for making jewelry and is slightly oxidized.

In addition, silver can turn black very quickly after contact with by different means household chemicals or products, such as onions, salt, raw eggs.

If you want to buy a chain, bracelet, ring or other jewelry that is not subject to oxidation at all, you should pay attention to models coated with rhodium. Thanks to this substance, the jewelry will not only not darken, but will also delight you with its unique bright shine. However, such a coating may wear off after a few years, as well as chip or scratch if the jewelry is handled carelessly.

Health problems

There is an opinion among people that silver jewelry turns black on a person who is sick with something, and there is some truth in such conversations. What does it mean? As noted above, silver oxidizes from interaction with human sweat, which contains sulfur. The more it is, the more the decoration will darken.

Sweating is natural process, characteristic of a healthy body. That is, the blackening of jewelry itself cannot indicate any health problems. However, if it is noticeable that the jewelry is darkening much faster than usual, and sweating has increased against the background of some pain in the body, it may make sense to get examined by a doctor. It is worth observing the condition of your body to make sure that the darkening of silver does not indicate a developing disease.

Of course, increased sweating is not always a sign of illness. This phenomenon can be observed during physical activity, during periods of stress or nervous tension. Another of the most common reasons for darkening of jewelry due to increased sweating is hormonal surges.

There is an opinion that such a reaction of the body with silver may occur due to kidney or liver diseases, but this opinion has no scientific confirmation. So it's not worth it once again overthink yourself and worry, it’s better to think about how you’ve changed in Lately lifestyle, body care, whether new creams or cosmetics have been added.

The tarnishing of silver can also be affected by taking certain medicines. They can change the composition of sweat, which is reflected in the silver as blackening.

If the cross has darkened

If it gets dark silver cross or any other favorite decoration, no need to be upset. There are many ways to get rid of specific plaque:

Special products for cleaning silver items. You can buy them not only in jewelry salons(where the price will be several times higher), but also in regular stores that sell household chemicals. The label has a simple and detailed instructions by application. However, if finding such a remedy is problematic, you can use home methods.
Ammonia will quickly and efficiently remove plaque from silver, but you need to act not with pure ammonia, but with its solution with water in a ratio of 1 tablespoon per half liter of water. To speed up the cleansing process and also add shine, add a little soap and hydrogen peroxide to the resulting solution.
A strong remedy for black plaque is baking soda. It is enough to dilute it in water and dip the jewelry into the solution for a few minutes, then wipe well. There is another way to clean silver using soda, but this will still require foil. Need to bring to a boil soda solution with water, and then throw into it ordinary foil, crumpled into small balls. After this, you can remove the resulting solution from the heat and put decorations in it. In a few minutes they will be completely transformed! But it is not recommended to use soda powder to clean jewelry, since noticeable scratches will remain on them after the procedure.
Regular 6% table vinegar, which can be found in any woman’s household, is also suitable for cleaning silver. It is enough to moisten a soft cloth in it and thoroughly wipe the blackened jewelry.
Also works well on black film sparkling water "Cola". You can leave jewelry in it for several hours, but the boiling process will reduce the holding time of the product to just a few minutes.

For silver jewelry to last a long time, you need to take proper care of it. First of all, do not forget that these are delicate items that require careful and careful handling:

There is no need to wear jewelry all the time, without taking it off at night. Of course, many people are accustomed to wearing crosses or “save and save” rings around the clock, but playing sports (with increased sweating), household cleaning, cooking and other processes can significantly spoil the appearance of jewelry.
It is also recommended to remove silver items before applying cosmetics on the skin.
Do not spray perfume on jewelry.
It is necessary to store silver in a special box, lined inside with a soft fleecy cloth.
If the product contains stones, they also require care. Such jewelry should be wiped with a soft cloth that will not leave micro-scratches on the surface.

If you follow these simple rules, Jewelry will retain their beauty in its original form for for many, many years, and they can be safely passed on by inheritance!

Blackening of silver on the body, as was popularly believed, was a sign of damage or serious problems with health, but in fact in most cases everything is much more prosaic. Jewelry contains not only silver, but also other additives, which, in fact, oxidize for a number of reasons.

Blackening of silver on the body: why does it turn black?

The main causes of silver blackening

The most common cause of blackening of silver jewelry is the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the air. When a person sweats, jewelry is exposed to a number of substances when wet, resulting in a complex biochemical reaction that leads to oxidation of the metal. This does not pose a threat to health, but the silver takes on an unaesthetic appearance.

Silver can turn black on the body when taking certain medications and dietary supplements, for example, antibiotics, diuretics, vitamin complexes, brewer's yeast and many others. The point is that part active ingredients penetrates into sweat, thereby changing its composition.

If you have recently changed creams, deodorants, shower gels or other body care products, it is possible that they contain components that cause metal oxidation. Anything that gets on the skin or changes the composition of sweat can cause silver to quickly turn black.

In any case, pay attention to the reaction of the cleaned silver. If you've never noticed before similar phenomena If you haven’t taken any medications or changed your diet recently, and the cosmetic products you use have remained the same, listen to your health.

Sometimes jewelry turns black due to problems with the kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, and so on. If you are not feeling well, get examined, at least take blood tests and see a therapist

Silver products have always been in fashion. Chains were especially popular among guys. But over time, the product becomes covered with a black coating. To minimize this problem in the future, you need to understand the causes. Why does silver turn black, especially on the human body? How and how to clean silver from blackness at home?

Reasons why silver darkens

There are many versions of what can cause an alloy to darken. Popular beliefs They say that blackened silver is a sign of trouble. Someone could damage or put the evil eye on a person. And as soon as the damage loses its power, it will return natural color. The story tells of the secret power of this alloy, which protects from harm and takes the full blow upon itself. Medicine, in turn, says that the reason lies in human health, and darkening through certain chemical processes interacting with bacteria. Science sees the reason in the presence of sulfur, from which the silver comes into contact. Let's take a closer look at the real reasons why silver darkens.

Superstitions

If the cross on the neck has darkened, it means someone has caused damage or a curse. The stronger the darkening, the more powerful the spells. You need to monitor the color of the decoration, as soon as it becomes natural, everything falls into place and the damage is removed. According to legend, you can feel how life loses its colors, everything becomes gray and ordinary. Someone's presence is felt for no reason. Silver products take the blow and protect their owner, which is why they turn black. Under such circumstances, the question of how to bleach silver is not even close.

Before all that has been said, it should be added that a person who experiences similar symptoms, most likely depressed. There is no need for silver here, it’s just a coincidence. Metal doesn't care what anyone thinks about its owner. And all the stories that for some reason our people still believe in come from paganism. People still can't refuse. And this despite the fact that everyone goes to church and considers themselves Christians. It’s a pity when faith in superstitions is stronger than in God.

Health problems

This reason can be attributed to folk knowledge. The bottom line is this: darkened silver indicates poor health. This symptom was noticed a long time ago, and partly the disease may actually be related. The bottom line is that the body constantly produces sweat. In winter it is practically invisible, but in summer there is a lot of it. During illness, sweating increases significantly, especially when the temperature rises. Sweat contains particles of sulfur, which when in contact with silver causes blackening. This is not mysticism, but an ordinary chemical process.

One might think, if sweat is constantly released, why did the silver cross turn black on the body during illness? The reason is that during this period profuse sweating. On other days it also affects, but more slowly, so the darkening occurs gradually. Does this mean that the body is to blame? No, sulfur and oxygen are more likely to blame.

The science

In fact, the reasons for the darkening of silver are understandable and do not contain any mysticism. Under the influence of oxygen, the metal enters chemical reaction with sulfur-containing compounds. This process is also called oxidation. The color of the surface changes due to the dark layer of silver sulfide formed as a result of the reactions.

Products can darken not only on humans. Hydrogen sulfide is often found in the air itself. But most common cause is precisely the interaction with sweat.

What enhances the oxidation of silver

Oxidation can occur gradually, not even noticeably at first. But at the same time, there are factors that can speed up the process significantly. Knowing them, you can avoid problems and save presentable appearance decorations