I have a sugar bowl of good quality silver plate with what I think is a lovely blue, even tarnished surface. Can tarnish be created purposely?
In the coin collecting world there is a subset of collectors that like their coins “toned” ie tarnished with rainbow hues that shimmer appealingly. The toning can be halted by putting them in airtight hard plastic holders. I’ve never known holloware to have a similar cohort that likes their wares tarnished, and I can’t think of a way of halting the tarnishing process once you get it to where you find it most appealing except to keep it tightly sealed out of the air when you aren’t using it. But if you love it tarnished, enjoy it. Who am I to yuck your yums?
Sulfur and hypochlorite make silver dark. If you want to stain it, just apply either of these two products and leave it for a while.
Do you want to expand upon this?
Thank you! Was wondering what chemical application would provide a reaction.
2 Ag(s) + S(s) → Ag₂S(s)
2Ag(s) + Cl₂(g) → 2AgCl(s)
2Ag(s) + 2ClO-(aq) + 2H2O(l) → 2AgCl(s) + Cl2(g) + 2OH-(aq)
I think the easiest to access is chlorine, any product that contains chlorine will make the silver dark. Honestly, I think the most beautiful dark color is the reaction with sulfur. In some places you can find sulfur soap.
My necklace is dark because my deodorant contains sulfur, but it is a talcum powder from the Brazilian brand Granado, you might find it in Brazilian stores. Honestly, the patina looks like black rhodium, in my opinion.
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I’m bad at chemistry so here is a premixed solution to use. You can buy jewelers Liver of sulfur or Jax Silver Blackener. Its easy to use but getting the tone you want is tricky. Then just polish and try try again. The iridescent blue can be kinda cool the blackened is easy but IMHO just black. Also you can boil an egg peal it and cut in half the Sulphur in the egg will tarnish it. You can control it by putting the cut egg and silver in a plastic bag, again its tricky. BTW I found this out as a chef serving deviled eggs, first putting them on a silver tray with saranwrap in the refrigerator who knew it would come in handy 45 years later…
How Interesting!
Yes a sugar bowl has a wonderful smooth, even iridescent blue sheen…… I have thought to use the blue sheen as part of a small piece of sculpture.
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