[Jewelry making - Article 00660] - Re: [Orchid] Oxidation or patination?

[Eileen Procter]

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Morning Captain,

    I believe Kevin was trying to explain the diffence in corrosion
    product as opposed to the actual reaction mechanics.  You are
    correct in that the metal has undergone oxidation as it looses
    electrons.  In metals, this reaction is called corrosion regardless
    of the actual corrosive element involved (oxides, carbonates,
    sulfides, chlorides...). What Kevin was explaining is that the
    reaction of sulfur on silver causes sulfur corrosion products, called
    tarnish or sulfides, and not oxygen corrosion products, oxides.  He
    was pointing out that jewellers are not refering to redox reactions
    when they use the terms oxide and oxidise but to the corrosion
    process/product in which oxides are formed. The confusion is simply
    that jewellers have grouped all corrosion - sulfide, chloride, oxide,
    chloride - as oxides rather than naming them for what they are. Clear
    as mud?  :) 

Eileen

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