The most common cause of tarnish to silverware (or any silver for that matter) would be sulfide. Any material that contains sulfide will most likely be the cause of your silverware tarnish. There are even foods that contain sulfide that can be the cause of tarnish. Climate and high humidity are also causes of silverware tarnish. There could be many causes as sulfide is found in many materials, but these would be the most common causes. Some are slow to tarnish, and others could accelerate the process.
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Silverware tarnishes when it comes into contact with substances such as sulfur, oxygen, and moisture. These substances can react with the silver in the silverware, causing it to form a tarnished layer. Exposure to air, certain foods, and cleaning chemicals can also contribute to the tarnishing of silverware.
The silverware had tarnish on it, so she polished it to restore its shine.
Silverware does NOT rust. Only iron containing compounds rust. However, silverware does oxidise , and become 'black' (Silver oxide). It can be removed by two methods. #1. Suilver ware polish. #2. Place in a solution of sodium carbonate ( washing soda), with aluminium foil.
Tarnish itself is not toxic, as it is simply a chemical reaction that occurs on the surface of silver. However, if silverware or objects with tarnish are used for eating or drinking, the tarnish may contain small amounts of compounds that could be harmful if ingested in large quantities. It is generally recommended to clean tarnished silver before use to avoid any potential risk.
The word equation for the reaction that causes potassium to tarnish is: potassium (K) + oxygen (O2) → potassium oxide (K2O).
Tarnishing of silverware is a chemical change. It occurs when the silver reacts with sulfur compounds in the air to form silver sulfide, which causes the silverware to darken and lose its luster.