Silver frequently occurs in its metallic state, sometimes pure, but more often in association with other metallic elements such as copper and gold. It is frequently found in association with lead ore and large quantities of silver are extracted during the extraction of lead.

Silver is also found as argentite, or silver sulfide Ag₂S; as various mixed sulfides of silver and antimony; and as horn silver, silver chloride AgCl.

Pure silver is the whitest of all metals, it is soft, malleable and ductile - in respect of ductility, it is inferior only to gold. It is the best known conductor of electricity and heat.

Metallic silver is used for a variety of purposes, probably the most important is in the minting of coinage and the manufacture of jewellery. The pure metal is too soft so it is usually alloyed with a small quantity of copper (c. 7 per cent) to harden it.