I know that tarnish comes from a chemical called sulfur, but in my research, it also says that you can find it around volcanic regions and hot springs.....hm. Last time I checked, there wasn't any hot springs in my house!!! I know how to get it off and everything...I just need to know: How does it get on silver IN my HOUSE!!!???
2007-01-11 15:57:22 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
its in the air. it doesn't take much. most tarnish is not from sulfur, but just plain oxidation. You really don't want to remove it, there is a method to de-oxidize it, i forget the exact chemicals, (they are household things i remember that much) and a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of the pan. it simply reverses the process, and they come out looking like new. you want to keep silver untarnished, vacuum pack it. no air, no tarnish.
How does the sulfur get in the air? vehicles, fireplaces, stoves all put trace amounts in the air. this only speeds up the oxidation process. some factories and power plants still put a bit in the air, even with all the EPA regs.
if you remove the oxidation by polishing, you are actually removing the silver. eventually you reduce the item by a significant amount if pure silver, if it is only silver plate, you will remove the plating.
another way to defeat the oxidation is get platinum or gold plated things rather than silver. platinum and gold do not tarnish like silver does. no, it isn't incredibly expensive like you would think, for say a whole set of silverware the actual amount of gold or platinum used is about the same amount of metal as in a dime, or even somewhat less. the coating is very very thin. you pay more for the process of coating it than the platinum or gold itself.
2007-01-11 16:14:25 · answer #1 · answered by tootall1121 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you heard of sulfur dioxide? It is in the air you breathe and that air is everywhere. It comes from volcanos, factories, ships,trains, trucks, cars.
Tarnish also occurs due to oxidation. Oxygen causes your silver to "rust" as well. New copper pennys get tarnished to as the copper and oxygen and the moisture in the air causes the penny to dull down. Oxygen is in the air you breath. So is moisture.
2007-01-12 00:19:29 · answer #2 · answered by ButwhatdoIno? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All silver gets tarnished with time. They only way i have found to get it off is clean it as often as you need too.
2007-01-12 01:00:36 · answer #3 · answered by cprucka 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, seriously, this is really spooky.
Anyone reading this, who is of a nervous disposition, should look away now.
There is this thing.
It is a really scary thing.
It contains corrosive chemicals.
It contaminates your silver.
To exclude it would preserve your silver, but would result in your own death.
Can you see how evil this stuff is?
It is called, in the vernacular, "air".
I wish you fortune in handling it
2007-01-12 00:26:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
exposure to air ( and moisture) . Clean it and store it in a ziplock baggie.
2007-01-12 00:10:17 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋