Difference Between Nickel and Silver

The key difference between nickel and silver is that the melting point of nickel is around two times higher than the melting point of silver. Though chemically different, both these metals are lustrous and look somewhat similar. However, unlike silver, nickel has a slight golden tinge.

Nickel and silver are two chemicals that fall into the category of metals. Moreover, both these chemical elements are in the d block of the periodic table of elements.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Nickel
3. What is Silver
4. Side by Side Comparison – Nickel vs Silver in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Nickel?

It is a chemical element having the atomic number 28 and the chemical symbol Ni. It resembles silver because both have a lustrous metallic appearance. However, unlike silver, this has a slight golden tinge. Some important chemical facts about nickel are as follows.

Atomic number = 28
Atomic mass = 58.69 amu
Electron configuration = [Ar] 3d⁸4s²
Physical state = solid at room temperature
Position in the periodic table = group 10, period 4 (d block)
Melting point = 1455°C
Boiling point = 2913°C
Isotopes = Ni-58, Ni-60 and Ni-62 are the key isotopes

Figure 1: A Chunk of Nickel

In general, nickel resists corrosion even at high temperatures. Moreover, it is a very ductile metal with a high ability to stretch into a thin-wire like structure without breakage. At room temperature, nickel has magnetic properties. Further, this metal is useful in forming different alloys.

What is Silver?

It is a chemical element having the atomic number 47 and the chemical symbol Ag. The symbol Ag comes from the Latin word Argentum meaning silver. The metal is highly unreactive; thus, it occurs in nature as a pure metal. Moreover, it has a characteristic, lustrous appearance. Some important chemical facts about silver are as follows:

Atomic number = 47
Atomic mass = 107.86 amu
Electron configuration = [Kr] 4d¹⁰5s¹
Physical state = solid at room temperature
Position in the periodic table = group 11, period 5 (d block)
Melting point = 961.7^oC
Boiling point = 2162 °C
Isotopes = Ag-107 and Ag-109 are the key isotopes

Figure 2: A Silver Bar

Silver is corrosion resistant due to its unreactive nature. Moreover, it has many applications in the production of jewelry, electronics (to make conductors and electrodes), catalysis (it is a good catalyst for oxidation reactions), silver nanoparticles, etc.

What is the Difference Between Nickel and Silver?

Nickel vs Silver
Nickel is a chemical element having the atomic number 28 and the chemical symbol Ni.	Silver is a chemical element having the atomic number 47 and the chemical symbol Ag.
Origins of Chemical Symbol
Chemical symbol is derived from its English name.	Chemical symbol is derived from its Latin name Argentum.
Electron Configuration
[Ar] 3d⁸4s²	[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s¹
Atomic Number
28	47
Atomic Mass
58.69 amu	107.86 amu
Melting Point
1455°C	961.7^oC

Summary – Nickel vs Silver

The key difference between nickel and silver is that the melting point of nickel is around two times higher than the melting point of silver. Whatever the difference in chemical properties, these two are important metals with a similar appearance.

Reference:

1. “Nickel – Element Information, Properties and Uses | Periodic Table.” Royal Society of Chemistry, Available here.
2. “Silver.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 May 2018, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Nickel chunk” By Materialscientist at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Sprott Silver Bar” by Sprott Money (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr