Silver

In India, foods can be found decorated with a thin layer of silver, known as Varak. For example, "football and swimming are my favourite sports" would sound natural to all English speakers, whereas "I enjoy sport" would sound less natural than "I enjoy sports" to many North Americans. The widespread use of silver went out of fashion with the invention of antibiotics. In all English dialects, "sports" is the term used for more than one specific sport. It is strongly advised to notify a doctor when taking silver as a form of self-medication. In American English, "sports" is more common for this usage. Although mostly harmless, some people using these home-made solutions use far too much and develop argyria over a period of months or years, and several have been documented in the last few years in the medical literature, including one possible case of coma associated with a high intake of silver (see medical references). In Commonwealth English, sporting activities are commonly denoted by the collective noun "sport".

Today, various kinds of silver compounds, or devices to make solutions or colloids containing silver, are sold as remedies for a wide variety of diseases. The closeness of art and sport in these times was revealed by the nature of the Olympic Games which, as we have seen, were celebrations of both sporting and artistic achievements, poetry, sculpture and architecture. One of these is a process generally known for heavy metals called the oligodynamic effect, which goes a long way explaining the effect on microbial lifeforms but does not explain certain antiviral functions. The modern term 'art' as skill, is related to this ancient Greek term 'arete'. The exact process by which this is done is still not well understood, although several different theories exist. Art and sport were probably more clearly linked at the time of Ancient Greece, when gymnastics and calisthenics invoked admiration and aesthetic appreciation for the physical build, prowess and 'arete' displayed by participants. in a test tube or a petri dish). It impresses us because of the ability, skill, and style which is shown.

It's germicidal effects kills many microbial organisms in vitro (i.e. In the same way, a sporting performance such as jumping doesn't just impress us as being an effective way to avoid obstacles or to get across streams. Silver-ions and silver compounds show a toxic effect on some bacteria, viruses, algae and fungi typical for heavy metals like lead or mercury, but without the high toxicity to humans that is normally associated with them. So an aesthetically pleasing car is one which doesn't just get from A to B, but which impresses us with its grace, poise, and charisma. Argyria is rare and mild forms are sometimes mistaken for cyanosis. This is similar to a common view of aesthetic value, which is seen as something over and above the strictly functional value coming from an object's normal use. Although this condition does not harm a person's health, it is disfiguring and usually permanent. The definition of "sport" above put forward the idea of an activity pursued not just for the usual purposes, for example, running not simply to get places, but running for its own sake, running as well as we can.

Silver and compounds containing silver (like colloidal silver) can be absorbed into the circulatory system and become deposited in various body tissues leading to a condition called argyria which results in a blue-grayish pigmentation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. The fact that art is so close to sport in some situations is probably related to the nature of sport. Silver compounds were used successfully to prevent infection in World War I before the advent of antibiotics, and Silver compounds are still widely used externally today to accelerate healing in burn victims. Similarly, there are other activities that have elements of sport and art in their execution, such as performance art, artistic gymnastics, Bodybuilding, Parkour, Yoga, dressage, etc. In the early 1900's people would put silver dollars in milk bottles to prolong the milk's freshness. Ice skating and Tai chi, for example, are sports that come close to artistic spectacles in themselves: to watch these activities comes close to the experience of spectating at a ballet. 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. Sport has many affinities with art.

Silver itself is not toxic but most of its salts are, and some may be carcinogenic. See also: List of countries by national sport. Silver plays no known natural biological role in humans, and possible health effects of silver are a subject of dispute. These trends are seen by some as contrary to the fundamental ethos of sport being carried on for its own sake, for the enjoyment of its participants. Pd-107 versus Ag correlations observed in bodies, which have clearly been melted since the accretion of the solar system, must reflect the presence of live short-lived nuclides in the early solar system. Nationalism in general is often evident in the pursuit of sport, or in its reporting: people compete in national teams, or commentators and audiences can adopt a partisan view. The discoverers suggest that the coalescence and differentiation of iron-cored small planets may have occurred 10 million years after a nucleosynthetic event. Until recently, under Rule 21, the GAA also banned members of the British security forces and members of the RUC, now reconstituted as the PSNI, from playing Gaelic games, but the advent of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 led to the eventual removal of the ban.

Radiogenic Ag-107 was first discovered in the Santa Clara meteorite in 1978. Until recently the GAA continued to ban the playing of soccer and Rugby union at Gaelic venues under the controversial Rule 42, although Gaelic games are frequently played on soccer and rugby arenas, particularly outside of Ireland. Iron meteorites are the only objects with a high enough Pd/Ag ratio to yield measurable variations in Ag-107 abundance. Even until the mid 20th century a person could have been banned from playing Gaelic football, hurling, or other sports administered by the GAA if s/he played or supported Football, or other games seen to be of British origin. The palladium isotope Pd-107 decays by beta emission to Ag-107 with a half-life of 6.5 million years. In the history of Ireland, Gaelic sports were connected with cultural nationalism. The primary decay products before Ag-107 are palladium (element 46) isotopes and the primary products after are cadmium (element 48) isotopes. The 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin was an illustration, perhaps best recognised in retrospect, where an ideology was developing which used the event to strengthen its spread through propaganda.

The primary decay mode before the most abundant stable isotope, Ag-107, is electron capture and the primary mode after is beta decay. Some feel this was an effective contribution to the eventual demolition of the policy of apartheid, others feel that it may have prolonged and reinforced its worst effects. Isotopes of silver range in atomic weight from 93.943 u (Ag-94) to 123.929 u (Ag-124). When apartheid was the official policy in South Africa, many sportspeople adopted the conscientious approach that they should not appear in competitive sports there. This element also has numerous meta states with the most stable being Ag-128m (t_* 418 years), Ag-110m (t_* 249.79 days) and Ag-107m (t_* 8.28 days). There have been many dilemmas for sports where a difficult political context is in place. All of the remaining radioactive isotopes have half-lifes that are less than an hour and the majority of these have half lifes that are less than 3 minutes. This has led to the control of each sport through a regulatory body to define what methods of competition are acceptable and what are considered cheating.

Twenty-eight radioisotopes have been characterised with the most stable being Ag-105 with a half-life of 41.29 days, Ag-111 with a half-life of 7.45 days, and Ag-112 with a half-life of 3.13 hours. The successful execution of a sport requires the consensus agreement of the participants on a set of rules for fair competition. Naturally occurring silver is composed of the two stable isotopes Ag-107 and Ag-109 with Ag-107 being the more abundant (51.839% natural abundance). Today the consensus is that David Beckham (England and Real Madrid Footballer) is the most famous sportsman in the world, with a fanatical following particularly in Asia where statues have been erected of his likeness. In December 2001 the silver price was $4.15 per ounce, and in February 2006 it had risen to $9.50 per ounce [1]. The entertainment aspect also means that sportsmen and women are often elevated to celebrity status, or in some cases near-god-like. In 1980 the silver price rose to an all-time high of $49.45 per troy ounce. This has resulted in some conflict, where the paycheck can be seen as more important than recreational aspects: or where the sport is changed simply to make it more profitable and popular therefore losing some of the traditions valued by some.

Over the last 100 years the price of silver and the gold/silver ratio has fluctuated greatly due to competing industrial and store of value demands. The entertainment aspect of sport, together with the spread of mass media and increased leisure time, has led to professionalism in sport. In turn, copper is about 1/70th as valuable as silver. Athletes, coaches, fans, and parents sometimes unleash violent behaviour on people or property, in misguided shows of loyalty, dominance, anger, or celebration. However, now silver is relatively cheap compared to other precious metals, with a mass of silver worth only about 1/60th the same mass of gold. Violence in sports involves crossing the line between fair competition and intentional aggressive violence. Because the majority of the world's silver deposits are concentrated in the Americas, silver was far more valuable before the Age of Discovery; on average, about 1/6th or 1/7th the price of gold. Compare Sportsmanship with Gamesmanship.

According to the Secretary of Economics of Mexico, it produced 80,120,000 troy ounces (2492 metric tons) in 2000, about 15% of the annual production of the world. Reciprocally, the other team is expected to return the ball from the throw-in. Mexico is the largest silver producer. For example, in football it is considered sportsmanlike to kick the ball out of play to allow treatment for an injured player on the other side. Commercial grade fine silver is at least 99.9% pure silver and purities greater than 99.999% are available. Not only is it important to have good sportsmanship if one wins, but also if one loses. This metal is also produced during the electrolytic refining of copper. Sportsmanship, within any given game, is how each competitor acts before, during, and after the competition.

The principal sources of silver are copper, copper-nickel, gold, lead and lead-zinc ores obtained from Canada, Cobalt, Ontario , Mexico, Peru, Australia and the United States. Indeed, the formal regulation of sport is a relatively modern and increasing development. Silver is found in native form, combined with sulfur, arsenic, antimony, or chlorine and in various ores such as argentite (Ag₂S) and horn silver (AgCl). Some of these activities have been popular but uncodified pursuits in various forms for different lengths of time. The largest silver ore deposits in the United States were discovered at the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada, in 1859. In this way sports evolve from leisure activity to more formal sports: relatively recent newcomers are BMX cycling, snowboarding, wrestling, etc. Notable "silver rushes" were in Colorado, Nevada, Cobalt, Ontario , California and the Kootenay region of British Columbia, notably in the Boundary and "Silvery Slocan". People responsible for leisure activities often seek recognition and respectability as sports by joining sports federations such as the IOC, or by forming their own regulatory body.

Silver mining was a driving force in the settlement of western North America, with major booms for silver and associated minerals (lead, mostly) in the galena ore silver is most commonly found in. But often the pressures of competition (See the related article, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing." or an obsession with individual achievement - as well as the intrusion of technology - can all work against enjoyment and fair play by participants. The Rio de la Plata was named after silver (in Spanish, plata), and in turn lent the meaning of its name to Argentina. is not winning but taking part” are typical expressions of this sentiment. The rise and fall of its value affected the world market. The well-known sentiment by sports journalist Grantland Rice, that it's “not that you won or lost but how you played the game," and the Modern Olympic creed expressed by its founder Pierre de Coubertin: "The most important thing . Silver, which was extremely valuable in China, became a global commodity, contributing to the rise of the Spanish Empire. Sportsmanship expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake.

The conquistador Pizarro was said to have resorted to having his horses shod with silver horseshoes due to the metal's abundance, in contrast to the relative lack of iron in Peru. However, it often emerges that skills are honed to increase racing performance and achievements in competition, rather than the converse. Europeans found a huge amount of silver in the New World in Zacatecas and Potosí, which triggered a period of inflation in Europe. For example, beginners in sailing are often told that dinghy racing is a good means to sharpen the learner's sailing skills. Occasionally, the word "silver" is used rather than argent; sometimes this is done across-the-board, sometimes to avoid repetition of the word "argent" in blazon. It is interesting that the motivation for sport is often an elusive element. In heraldry, the argent, in addition to being shown as silver (this has been shown at times with real silver in official representations), can also been shown as white. Sportsmanship is defined as "conduct and attitude considered as befitting participants, including a sense of fair play, courtesy toward teammates and opponents, a striving spirit, and grace in losing.".

The metal mercury was thought of as a kind of silver, though the two elements are chemically unrelated; its Latin and English names, hydrargyrum ("watery silver") and quicksilver, respectively, reflect this history. The examples given are intended to be illustrative, rather than comprehensive. One of the alchemical symbols for silver is a crescent moon with the open part on the left (see picture, right). One system for classifying sports is as follows, based more on the sport's aim than on the actual mechanics. Associated with the moon, as well as with the sea and various lunar goddesses, the metal was referred to by alchemists by the name luna. Main article: List of sports. In Ancient Egypt and Medieval Europe, it was often more valuable than gold. Not only has professionalism helped increase the popularity of sports, but additionally the need to have fun and take a break from a hectic workday or to relieve unwanted stress, as with any profession.

Its value as a precious metal was long considered second only to gold. Professionalism became prevalent, further adding to the increase in sport's popularity. Silver has been used for thousands of years for ornaments and utensils, for trade, and as the basis for many monetary systems. These trends continued with the advent of mass media and global communication. It is mentioned in the book of Genesis, and slag heaps found in Asia Minor and on the islands of the Aegean Sea indicate that silver was being separated from lead as early as the 4th millennium BC. The Industrial Revolution and mass production brought increased leisure which allowed increases in spectator sports, less elitism in sports, and greater accessibility. Silver (from Anglo-Saxon seolfor, compare Old High German silabar; Ag is from the Latin argentum) has been known since ancient times. Activities necessary for food and survival became regulated activities done for pleasure or competition on an increasing scale, for example hunting, fishing, horticulture.

Some other uses for silver are as follows:. Sport has been increasingly organised and regulated from the time of the Ancient Olympics up to the present century. Its salts, especially silver nitrate and silver halides, are also widely used in photography (which is the largest single end use of silver). The Olympic Games were held every four years in Ancient Greece, at a small village in Pelopponisos called Olympia. The principal use of silver is as a precious metal. This suggests that the military culture of Greece was an influence on the development of its sports and vice versa. The most common oxidation state of silver is +1; a few +2 compounds are known as well. Wrestling, running, boxing, javelin, discus throwing, and chariot racing were prevalent.

This metal is stable in pure air and water, but does tarnish when it is exposed to ozone, hydrogen sulfide, or air with sulfur in it. A wide range of sports were already established at the time of the Ancient Greece. Silver halides are photosensitive and are remarkable for the effect of light upon them. Among other sports which originate in Persia are polo and jousting. Pure silver also has the highest thermal conductivity, whitest colour, the highest optical reflectivity (although it is a poor reflector of ultraviolet light), and the lowest contact resistance of any metal. Ancient Persian sports such as the traditional Iranian martial art of Zourkhaneh had a close connection to the warfare skills. It has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals, even higher than copper, but its greater cost and tarnishability has prevented it from being widely used in place of copper for electrical purposes. Other sports included javelin throwing, high jump, and wrestling.

Silver is a very ductile and malleable (slightly harder than gold) univalent coinage metal with a brilliant white metallic luster that can take a high degree of polish. Monuments to the Pharaohs indicate that a range of sports were well developed and regulated several thousands of years ago, including swimming and fishing. . Gymnastics appears to have been a popular sport in China's past. This metal is used in coins, jewelry, tableware, and photography. There are artifacts and structures which suggest that Chinese people engaged in activities which meet our definition of sport as early as 4000 BC. A soft white lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal and occurs in minerals and in free form. Although there is scant direct evidence of sport from these sources, it is reasonable to extrapolate that there was some activity at these times resembling sport.

Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the traditional abbreviation for the Latin argentum). Some of these sources date from over 30,000 years ago, as established by carbon dating. Los Alamos National Laboratory – Silver. There are many modern discoveries in France, Africa, and Australia of cave art (see, for example, Lascaux) from prehistory which provide evidence of ritual ceremonial behaviour. Now, Acticoat Burn Dressings (activated silver dressings) have largely replaced those earlier treatments. The development of sport throughout history teaches us a great deal about social changes, and about the nature of sport itself. Silver nitrate (liquid) and silver sulfadiazine cream (SSD Cream) were the "standard of care" for the antibacterial/antibiotic treatment of serious burns until the late 1990's. Main article: History of sport.

Colloidal silver is a possible antibacterial / antibiotic treatment that requires further clinical testing to support actual efficacy. . Silver oxide is used as a positive electrode (cathode) in watch batteries. The difference of purpose is what characterises sport, combined with the notion of individual (or team) skill or prowess. The use of silver fashioned into bullets for firearms is a popular application. A sport has physical activity, side by side competition, self-motivation and a scoring system. In legend, silver is traditionally seen as harmful to supernatural creatures like werewolves and vampires. A sport consists of a physical and mentally competitive activity carried out with a recreational purpose for competition, for self-enjoyment, to attain excellence, for the development of a skill, or some combination of these.

Silver iodide has been used in attempts to seed clouds to produce rain. The Meaning of Sports by Michael Mandel (PublicAffairs, ISBN 1-58648-252-1). Silver chloride is also a widely used electrode for pH testing and potentiometric measurement. Golf. Silver chloride can be made transparent and is used as a cement for glass. Paintball. Silver fulminate is a powerful explosive. Curling.

Silver sulfide, also known as Silver Whiskers, is formed when silver electrical contacts are used in an atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulfide. Biathlon. Used to make solder and brazing alloys, electrical contacts, and high capacity silver-zinc and silver-cadmium batteries. Strength (Weight-lifting, triple jump, shot put ...). Silver's catalytic properties make it ideal for use as a catalyst in oxidation reactions; for example, the production of formaldehyde from methanol and air by means of silver screens or crystallites containing a minimum 99.95 weight-percent silver. Display (Gymnastics, bodybuilding, equestrianism, diving...). The malleability, non-toxicity and beauty of silver make it useful in dental alloys for fittings and fillings. Target (Archery, shooting, darts ...).

The metal is chosen for its beauty in the manufacture of jewelry and silverware, which are traditionally made from the silver alloy known as Sterling silver, which is 92.5% silver. Other examples include: Rugby, ice hockey, field hockey, softball, basketball, American Football...). The words for "silver" and "money" are the same in at least 14 languages. Team (cricket, Baseball and football (soccer) are the most popular globally, with baseball being popular in the Americas and in Japan, cricket in the Commonwealth of Nations and football being popular throughout the world. Later, silver was refined and coined in its pure form. Court (Tennis, shuttlecock sport, badminton, volleyball, squash, Table tennis...). Silver has been coined to produce money since 700 BC by the Lydians, in the form of electrum. Combat (Wrestling, Judo, karate, boxing, fencing, tae kwon do...).

Common mirrors are backed with aluminium. Mirrors which need silver's superior reflectivity for visible light are made with silver as the reflecting material in a process called silvering. Silver is also used in high voltage contacts because it is the only metal that will not arc across contacts, hence it is extremely safe. For example, printed circuits are made using silver paints, and computer keyboards use silver electrical contacts.

Electrical and electronic products, which need silver's superior conductivity, even when tarnished.