Silver cyanide reaction with other anions. Some silver cyanides are luminescent. Both AgCN and KAg(CN) have been used in silver-plating solutions since at least 1840 when the Elkington brothers patented their recipe for a silver-plating solution. A typical, traditional silver-plating solution would contain KAg(CN) 15-40 gL, KCN 12-120 gL and KCO gL. Silver cyanide Silver cyanide is the chemical compound with the formula AgCN. This white solid forms upon treatment of solutions containing Ag with cyanide. This precipitation step is used in some schemes to recover silver from solution. Silver cyanide is used in silver-plating. Its structure consist of -[Ag-CN]- chains in
Silver mining The first major silver ore deposits in the United States were discovered at the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada, in 1859. Silver is commonly extracted from ore by smelting or chemical leaching. Ore treatment by mercury amalgamation, such as in the patio process or pan amalgamation was widely used through the 1800s, but is seldom used today. Silver is also produced during the electrolytic refining of copper and by application of the Parkes process on lead metal obtained from lead ores that contain small amounts of silver. Commercial grade fine silver is at least 99.9 percent pure silver and