What Are the Steps to Refining Silver?
Scrap silver, fairly plentiful, is present in most computers and other electronic devices, in addition to sources such as pre-1964 coins, silverware and jewelry. While scrap silver can be sold as is, fine silver commands a much greater value, and the unique qualities of the metal are more accessible in this form. Commercial-scale silver refinement usually involves melting the metal, but the most common technique on a small scale involves dissolving the metal in acid. Dissolve. Place the source material in a bath of diluted nitric acid, roughly equal parts acid and water. This stage will take several hours, usually overnight, but can be accelerated by heating the solution. Do not boil, however. Filter. Using coffee filters, filter the acid solution until clear. Retain any solid remnants, as they may contain other precious metals or gems. The liquid, however, contains the silver as silver nitrate. Precipitate. Place copper wire in the clear acid solution to separate the nitrogen of the a
