Ask Difference

Nickel vs. Silver — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Nickel is a silvery-white metallic element often used in alloys; Silver is a shiny grayish-white precious metal valued for jewelry and currency.
Nickel vs. Silver — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Nickel and Silver

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Key Differences

Nickel, when mentioned in everyday contexts, often refers to the elemental metal characterized by its silvery-white hue and magnetic properties. Silver, on the other hand, is a lustrous grayish-white precious metal that has been historically prized for its aesthetic value and rarity.
Nickel is extensively used in producing stainless steel, batteries, and coinage, while Silver is prominently seen in jewelry, silverware, and coins.
While both Nickel and Silver might appear similar in color, they differ in terms of their chemical properties, uses, and value.
For instance, Silver is a noble metal, resistant to corrosion and oxidation in moist air, unlike Nickel. Furthermore, Silver holds cultural and historical significance in many societies, often symbolizing wealth and status, whereas Nickel is primarily known for its industrial applications.

Comparison Chart

Chemical Symbol

Ni
Ag
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Common Use

Alloys, batteries, coinage
Jewelry, silverware, coins

Color

Silvery-white
Shiny grayish-white

Corrosion

Can corrode in certain conditions
Resistant to corrosion and oxidation

Value

Commonly used in industries, less valuable than silver
Precious metal, historically valued

Compare with Definitions

Nickel

Nickel is a silvery-white, hard, malleable, and ductile metal.
Coins are often made with a Nickel alloy for durability.

Silver

Silver has high electrical and thermal conductivity.
Silver is often used in electronic components because of its conductivity.

Nickel

Nickel is magnetic at room temperature.
The magnetic properties of Nickel are exploited in certain electronic devices.

Silver

Silver coins were historically used as currency.
Ancient civilizations traded using Silver coins.

Nickel

Nickel is a chemical element with the symbol Ni.
The Nickel content in stainless steel prevents corrosion.

Silver

Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin argentum, derived from the Proto-Indo-European h₂erǵ: "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal.

Nickel

Nickel is a chemical element with the symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge.

Silver

Symbol Ag A lustrous white, ductile, malleable metallic element, occurring both uncombined and in ores such as argentite, having the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of the metals. It is highly valued for jewelry, tableware, and other ornamental use and is widely used in coinage, photography, dental and soldering alloys, electrical contacts, and printed circuits. Atomic number 47; atomic weight 107.868; melting point 961.78°C; boiling point 2,162°C; specific gravity 10.50 (20°C); valence 1, 2. See Periodic Table.

Nickel

A silvery-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 28.

Silver

This metallic element as a commodity or medium of exchange.

Nickel

A five-cent coin; five cents
A button the size of a nickel
We will see gasoline prices go up about a nickel

Silver

Coins made of this metallic element.

Nickel

Coat with nickel
Heavily nickelled iron castings

Silver

A medal made of silver awarded to one placing second in a competition, as in the Olympics.

Nickel

Symbol Ni A silvery, hard, ductile, ferromagnetic metallic element used in corrosion-resistant alloys, stainless steel, catalysts for hydrogenation, and batteries, and for electroplating. Atomic number 28; atomic weight 58.69; melting point 1,455°C; boiling point 2,913°C; specific gravity 8.902; valence 0, 1, 2, 3. See Periodic Table.

Silver

Domestic articles, such as tableware, made of or plated with silver.

Nickel

A coin of the United States or Canada worth five cents.

Silver

Tableware, especially eating and serving utensils, made of steel or another metal.

Nickel

To coat with nickel.

Silver

A lustrous medium gray.

Nickel

(uncountable) A silvery elemental metal with an atomic number of 28 and symbol Ni.

Silver

A silver salt, especially silver nitrate, used to sensitize paper.

Nickel

A coin worth 5 cents.

Silver

Made of or containing silver
A silver bowl.
Silver ore.

Nickel

Five dollars.

Silver

Resembling silver, especially in having a lustrous shine; silvery.

Nickel

Five hundred dollars.

Silver

Of a lustrous medium gray
Silver hair.

Nickel

Interstate 5, a highway that runs along the west coast of the United States.

Silver

Having a soft, clear, resonant sound.

Nickel

(slang) A playing card with the rank of five

Silver

Eloquent; persuasive
A silver voice.

Nickel

A five-year prison sentence.

Silver

Favoring the adoption of silver as a standard of currency
The silver plank of the 1896 Democratic platform.

Nickel

(American football) A defensive formation with five defensive backs, one of whom is a nickelback, instead of the more common four.

Silver

Of or constituting a 25th anniversary.

Nickel

An airborne propaganda leaflet.

Silver

To cover, plate, or adorn with silver or a similar lustrous substance.

Nickel

Synonym of cheap: Low price and/or low value.
Let me give you the nickel tour of the office.

Silver

To give a silver color to.

Nickel

(transitive) To plate with nickel.

Silver

To coat (photographic paper) with a film of silver nitrate or other silver salt.

Nickel

To distribute airborne leaflet propaganda.

Silver

To become silvery.

Nickel

A bright silver-white metallic element of atomic number 28. It is of the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.70.

Silver

(uncountable) A lustrous, white, metallic element, atomic number 47, atomic weight 107.87, symbol Ag.

Nickel

A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a five-cent piece.

Silver

Coins made from silver or any similar white metal.

Nickel

A hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion; used in alloys; occurs in pentlandite and smaltite and garnierite and millerite

Silver

Cutlery and other eating utensils, whether silver or made from some other white metal.

Nickel

A United States coin worth one twentieth of a dollar

Silver

Any items made from silver or any other white metal.

Nickel

Five dollars worth of a drug;
A nickel bag of drugs
A nickel deck of heroin

Silver

(uncountable) A shiny gray color.

Nickel

Plate with nickel;
Nickel the plate

Silver

(countable) a silver medal

Nickel

Nickel is often alloyed with other metals.
Nickel is combined with chromium to produce a corrosion-resistant material.

Silver

Anything resembling silver; something shiny and white.

Nickel

Nickel is an essential nutrient in trace amounts.
Some foods contain small amounts of Nickel essential for the human body.

Silver

Made from silver.

Silver

Made from another white metal.

Silver

Having a color like silver: a shiny gray.

Silver

Denoting the twenty-fifth anniversary, especially of a wedding.

Silver

(of commercial services) Premium, but inferior to gold.

Silver

Having the clear, musical tone of silver; soft and clear in sound.
A silver-voiced young girl

Silver

To acquire a silvery colour.

Silver

To cover with silver, or with a silvery metal.
To silver a pin;  to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury

Silver

To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.

Silver

To make hoary, or white, like silver.

Silver

A soft white metallic element, sonorous, ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It is found native, and also combined with sulphur, arsenic, antimony, chlorine, etc., in the minerals argentite, proustite, pyrargyrite, ceragyrite, etc. Silver is one of the "noble" metals, so-called, not being easily oxidized, and is used for coin, jewelry, plate, and a great variety of articles. Symbol Ag (Argentum). Atomic weight 107.7. Specific gravity 10.5.

Silver

Coin made of silver; silver money.

Silver

Anything having the luster or appearance of silver.

Silver

The color of silver.

Silver

Of or pertaining to silver; made of silver; as, silver leaf; a silver cup.

Silver

Resembling silver.
Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathedTheir downy breast.

Silver

Precious; costly.

Silver

To cover with silver; to give a silvery appearance to by applying a metal of a silvery color; as, to silver a pin; to silver a glass mirror plate with an amalgam of tin and mercury.

Silver

To polish like silver; to impart a brightness to, like that of silver.
And smiling calmness silvered o'er the deep.

Silver

To make hoary, or white, like silver.
His head was silvered o'er with age.

Silver

To acquire a silvery color.
The eastern sky began to silver and shine.

Silver

A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

Silver

Coins made of silver

Silver

A light shade of gray

Silver

Silverware eating utensils

Silver

A medal made of silver (or having the appearance of silver) that is usually awarded for winning second place in a competition

Silver

Coat with a layer of silver or a silver amalgam;
Silver the necklace

Silver

Make silver in color;
Her worries had silvered her hair

Silver

Turn silver;
The man's hair silvered very attractively

Silver

Made from or largely consisting of silver;
Silver bracelets

Silver

Having the white lustrous sheen of silver;
A land of silver (or silvern) rivers where the salmon leap
Repeated scrubbings have given the wood a silvery sheen

Silver

Lustrous gray; covered with or tinged with the color of silver;
Silvery hair

Silver

Expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively;
Able to dazzle with his facile tongue
Silver speech

Silver

Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag.
Pure Silver is often too soft for products, so it's alloyed with other metals.

Silver

Silver is a precious grayish-white metal.
She received a Silver necklace for her birthday.

Silver

Silver compounds are used in photography.
Silver halides are sensitive to light, making them useful in photographic film.

Common Curiosities

Why is Nickel used in coins?

Nickel is durable and resistant to corrosion, making it suitable for coinage.

What is sterling Silver?

Sterling Silver is an alloy containing 92.5% Silver and 7.5% other metals, often copper.

Is Nickel magnetic?

Yes, Nickel is magnetic at room temperature.

Is Nickel a precious metal like Silver?

No, Nickel is not considered a precious metal, whereas Silver is.

Can both Nickel and Silver be used in jewelry?

Yes, both are used in jewelry, but Silver is more common for its luster and value.

Can people be allergic to Nickel?

Yes, some individuals have Nickel allergies, often manifesting as skin reactions.

Are Silver coins made of pure Silver?

Not always; many Silver coins are alloys for added durability.

Why is Silver valued in electronics?

Silver's high electrical conductivity makes it valuable in electronic components.

Are Nickel and Silver resistant to corrosion?

While Silver is generally corrosion-resistant, Nickel can corrode under specific conditions.

What are common alloys for Nickel?

Nickel is often alloyed with metals like chromium, copper, and iron.

What color is Silver when oxidized?

Silver tarnish, a result of oxidation, can appear as a black or dark gray color.

Can Silver tarnish over time?

Yes, Silver can tarnish when exposed to sulfur compounds in the air.

Can Nickel be found in everyday products?

Yes, Nickel can be found in various products, including kitchenware, coins, and batteries.

Which is heavier, Nickel or Silver?

By volume, Nickel is denser than Silver.

Are both Nickel and Silver mined?

Yes, both metals are extracted from the earth through mining.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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