Boiling silver, particularly in the context of cleaning, involves a chemical reaction that removes tarnish. Based on common methods and the provided reference, boiling tarnished silver in a specific solution can restore its shine.
Boiling Silver in a Cleaning Solution
A well-known technique for cleaning tarnished silver involves boiling it in a solution. This method is often remembered from science demonstrations and is effective for removing silver sulfide tarnish.
The process typically involves:
- Lining a pot with aluminum foil.
- Adding water, baking soda, and salt to the pot.
- Placing the tarnished silver items in the pot, ensuring they are in contact with the aluminum foil.
- Bringing the water to a boil.
The Outcome of Boiling Silver in Solution
According to the provided reference, when tarnished silver is boiled in this solution with baking soda, salt, and aluminum foil:
"...as the water boils, the silver gets clean and the aluminum foil gets tarnished – right before your eyes."
This outcome occurs because the aluminum, which is more reactive than silver, essentially "sacrifices" itself by reacting with the sulfur from the silver tarnish (silver sulfide), transferring the tarnish from the silver to the aluminum foil.
Key Results:
- Silver: The silver items are cleaned as the tarnish is removed.
- Aluminum Foil: The aluminum foil becomes tarnished as it collects the sulfur from the silver sulfide.
This method is a practical application of a chemical reaction (specifically, an electrochemical reaction) driven by the heat of the boiling water, which speeds up the process.
