Element story

Silver

Atomic number 47 means that every Silver nucleus contains 47 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Silver.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 47 means that every Silver nucleus contains 47 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Silver.

Silver (Ag) is chemical element 47. It belongs to the transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in jewellery, electronics and solar cells.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 47 means that every Silver nucleus contains 47 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Silver.

Keep exploring

→ Silver · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

Sources

EN · institutional/academic · IUPAC · CIAAW · NIST