Back to Periodic Table
Transition metals

Silver

The most electrically and thermally conductive metal.

Atomic #47Mass107.87Blockd-blockPeriod5Group11
Ag47 · 107.87
3D Atom Explorer

Inside the Silver atom

Switch between Bohr and Quantum Cloud modes to compare a simple teaching model with a more realistic probability-based view, and follow the guided tour to explore the Silver atom step by step.

Loading 3D atom…

Electron configuration

[Kr] 4d10 5s1

A neutral Silver atom has 47 electrons (equal to its proton count). Choosing a different isotope above changes only the neutron count.

Shell distribution

Shell 12 e⁻Shell 28 e⁻Shell 318 e⁻Shell 418 e⁻Shell 51 e⁻

Electrons fill inner shells before outer ones; the outermost (valence) shell drives the element's chemistry.

Properties

Physical & atomic properties

State (room temp)
Solid
Melting point
1235 K (962 °C)
Boiling point
2435 K (2162 °C)
Density
10.501 g/cm³
Electronegativity
1.93 Pauling
Atomic radius
160 pm
1st ionization energy
731 kJ/mol
Category
Transition metals
History

Discovery & naming

Discovered
Antiquity
Discovered by
Known since antiquity
Origin of name
Anglo-Saxon 'seolfor'; symbol from Latin 'argentum'.

Notable uses

Jewellery, electronics, and antibacterial coatings.

Cosmic origin

Where Silver comes from

Neutron star mergers

Mostly an r-process element: silver is a product of rapid neutron capture.

Simplified origin map — many elements form through more than one astrophysical pathway.

Summary

Atomic number
47
Atomic mass
107.87
Category
Transition metals
Group · Period
11 · 5
Block
d-block
Shells
2 · 8 · 18 · 18 · 1