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Old 14th Apr 2012, 6:45 pm   #1
John_BS
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Wincanton, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 1,757
Default Silver dip: what's the secret?

I've recently "restored" some rather grotty-looking (silver plated) BNC's with a very old jar of Goddard's Silver Dip. This dip really does work, and even cleans the centre-pins.
Now, I seem to remember once reading that this solution reduces the silver (sulphide) back to silver, so you weren't actually losing any silver in the process. However, the instructions on the jar (which must be 20+ years old) state that you should not leave objects in the solution for more than 5 minutes or so: which might be interpreted as a surface removal process?

Does anyone happen to know the chemistry involved?

John

NB A a small deposit of colourless crystals has formed in the bottom of this jar.
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