Why silver tarnishes while gold remains eternally lustrous
In short: Ever wondered why your silver spoons turn black but gold jewelry stays bright? This video explains the chemistry of tarnish and reveals how Einstein's theory of relativity dictates the very color of gold.
Silver turns black because it reacts with hydrogen sulfide in the air to form a layer of black silver sulfide. Unlike rust, which is an oxygen reaction, this tarnish is a sulfur-based chemical change. Gold, however, is classified as a noble metal because it remains largely unreactive.
The reason for gold's unique stability lies in relativistic chemistry. According to the work of Pekka Pyykkö, Einstein's theory of relativity affects gold's electrons, making them behave differently than other metals. This same effect is responsible for giving gold its distinct yellow hue and keeping mercury liquid at room temperature.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Why Does Silver Turn Black While Gold Does Not? Explained in Simple Words
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