"Is this silver?" test : Density

[Dok Holliday]

"Is this silver?" test : Density

I want to run something by you guys as a double check to see if I'm crazy, in too deep, or perfectly normal.

I started thinking about this because I've had a spoon my mother came about at a garage sale when I was younger. She said it was silver, but it was sealed in a small plastic pouch. After a while of storage in a loose container the plastic was compromised and the spoon started to oxidize with the classic dark silver tarnish. To me it appears that the item is AT LEAST silver plated. I cannot find any identifying hallmarks to indicate the content. I want to know if this spoon is junk silver, or simply just junk. I don’t want to cut the spoon apart.

After some though I figured out that I could weigh the spoon, and then measure the volume of the spoon through a simple displacement test, and then I’ll know the density of the spoon. I am sure there are resources on the internet that will tell me the density of the various grades of silver (Fine, Sterling, 900 Coin, etc) and I could check those numbers against my result.

Did I just think up a fool proof (albeit complex) way to determine if the unknown coins we find in circulation are real silver or counterfeit, and if so what quality of silver?

 

[BuffaloBoy]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

I can see why you want to do it yourself, but I would personally bring it to a coin dealer or antique shop to determine the content or value.

It sounds like it is silver, no marks, unfourtinately. It could have value more than it's melt value as well

HH
BuffaloBoy

 

[cunextuesday]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

From what I've researched, anything that is sterling (.925%) will have an identifying mark on it. If there are no identifying hallmarks the next best test is acid testing. You can get kits on Amazon for very little. You can rub a generous amount off the spoon without destroying it to test for plating. Sterling will turn very dark red when the acid hits it & stay that way pretty much. If it's plated it will turn greenish. That's your best bet in my opinion. Secondly, you can pretend like you want to pawn it & have them test it for you.

 

[Felinepeachy]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

Or, you could take a piece of aluminum foil, spit on the spoon and gently rub the foil on the spoon. If it is silver, you will get the classic sulfur smell. It's a very accurate test but I wouldn't do it on coins if they are of any value.

 

[Dok Holliday]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

You guys are quickly taking my evil scientist fun out of this...

 

[cunextuesday]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

Or, you could take a piece of aluminum foil, spit on the spoon and gently rub the foil on the spoon. If it is silver, you will get the classic sulfur smell. It's a very accurate test but I wouldn't do it on coins if they are of any value.

Huh, I've never heard this one before. What if it's plated?

 

[Bigheed]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

Dok, displacement should work, but just make sure you use distilled water or some other pure substance that you know the density of, tap water density might vary slightly depending on the hardness and could throw off your computation a little.

 

[Felinepeachy]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

Or, you could take a piece of aluminum foil, spit on the spoon and gently rub the foil on the spoon. If it is silver, you will get the classic sulfur smell. It's a very accurate test but I wouldn't do it on coins if they are of any value.

Huh, I've never heard this one before. What if it's plated?

In my experience with this test, if it's just plated the smell will be faint. Can you post a pic of the spoon front and back? And a close up of the pattern on it, if any? There is a great website to ID old spoons....let me go find it. BRB

 

[Dok Holliday]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

Only mark is ONEIDA LTD on the back...after a bit of Google research...probably plated junk

 

[Felinepeachy]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

Ok, well if you want to put a date to the spoon you can check here

http://www.antiquecupboard.com/silverplate-flatware-silverware.asp

 

[Dok Holliday]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density

In my experience with this test, if it's just plated the smell will be faint. Can you post a pic of the spoon front and back? And a close up of the pattern on it, if any? There is a great website to ID old spoons....let me go find it. BRB

I know just enough about chemistry to know that this is a solid test (http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/tarnish.html), as the spit will be the medium to which the sulfur sulfide tarnish gets pulled from the silver to the Aluminium in the foil...just like baking soda water would when you want to clean the silver.

I tested this....there is certainly a sulfur smell with the spoon. I tried the 80% silver face of a 40% Silver Clad half dollar...no sulfur (although there was little tarnish to create the sulfur needed). I have no baseline to tell if the sulfur level I smelled was "a little" to indicate plate or "a lot" to indicate solid.

The density of the water I use in my density test doesn't matter, I will simply be using the water to test the displacement volume. Between the weight of the item and the volume of the item I can calculate the density of the silver item. As long as the water volume is the same before I put the item in as it is when the item is in it, I should get an accurate reading...

 

[Felinepeachy]

Re: "Is this silver?" test : Density



When I metal detected a lot, I just found that carrying a piece of foil in my pocket was helpful in the field to do a quick test. I always hated waiting to get home.