what are some important uses of silver(Ag)(ex. medicines?)?

Answer 1

[[edit] In medicine
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, wrote that silver had beneficial healing and anti-disease properties, and the Phoenicians used to store water, wine, and vinegar in silver bottles to prevent spoiling. In the early 1900s people would put silver dollars in milk bottles to prolong the milk's freshness. Silver compounds were used successfully to prevent infection in World War I before the advent of antibiotics. Silver nitrate solution was a standard of care but was largely replaced by silver sulfadiazine cream (SSD Cream)[3] which was generally the "standard of care" for the antibacterial/antibiotic treatment of serious burns until the late 1990s. Now, other options such as silver coated dressings (activated silver dressings) are used in addition to SSD cream, and may present advantages such as pain reduction and capacity for treatment at home.

The widespread use of silver went out of fashion with the development of modern antibiotics. However, recently there has been renewed interest in silver as a broad spectrum antimicrobial. In particular, it is being used with alginate, a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from seaweed, in a range of silver alginate products designed to prevent infections as part of wound management procedures, particularly applicable to burn victims. In 2007, AGC Flat Glass Europe introduced the first antibacterial glass to fight hospital-caught infection: it is covered with a thin layer of silver.[4] In addition, Samsung has introduced washing machines with a final rinse containing silver ions to provide several days of antibacterial protection in the clothes.[5] Additionally, Kohler has introduced a line of toilet seats that have silver ions embedded to kill germs. A company called Thomson Research Associates has begun treating products with Ultra Fresh, an anti-microbial technology involving "proprietary nano-technology to produce the ultra-fine silver particles essential to ease of application and long-term protection."[6] The FDA has recently approved an endotracheal breathing tube with a fine coat of silver for use in mechanical ventilation, after studies found it reduced the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia.[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver#In_medicine

Answer 2

What do you mean ex. medicines? Silver nitrate solution is dropped into babies' eyes at birth to prevent gonorrheal blindness.

Otherwise, photography is the most important use. Even with digital cameras, people have to print out glossy pictures, and that takes silver nitrate print paper.

Answer 3

silver is used to make the second best wire connection in the world. Gold is the best, but not cost effective for most of us and our wallets.

Medical equipment and all most anything to do with wires to be soldered.

Answer 4

Silver compounds can be used as disinfectants

Answer 5

This actually isn't very important, but if you take too much silver, it'll turn your skin blue....

Answer 6

It's used in developing photographs

Answer 7

silvadene (cream for burns)... silver nitrate for canker sore, and endotracheal tubes to prevent infection

Answer 8

toothpaste