Black jewelery from water

[modust]

Could you please tell me what in the pool water would cause my silver jewelery to turn black. Also burn the skin.


Thanks modust

[TSH Tech]

Chlorine, Salt Water pool, a high acid level(alkalinity of 40 or lower) would tarnish silver very quickly, turning it black. Basically stripped it bare if it had any protective polish on it.

As for the burning sensation, since silver mixed with pool water doesn't make an acid. It's more than likely the actual oxidation process happening soon as the bare silver meets the oxygen in the air when you're out of the pool. I could see this happening with a salt water pool. Salt mixed with air oxygen on soft metals would give that effect very easily.

[cpo2go]

Agreed, it's water that is too acidic. Check and adjust alkalinty first, then pH.

[rosalind]

Could you please tell me what in the pool water would cause my silver jewelery to turn black. Also burn the skin.


Thanks modust

Drain the pool entirely, and abstract any current debris. Work with an open, uncluttered pool space to examine where all of the Black jewelery from water may be in the pool.

[czechmate]

Agreed, it's water that is too acidic. Check and adjust alkalinty first, then pH.

Agreed. Unless you care about your pool integrity, keep adjusting the pool water chemistry to accomodate your silver jewelry. Most people do the exact opposite.

[ChloeP]

I've had this problem too. With regards to the jewelry itself, I was told to rub toothpaste on it and it worked, not sure how it works but my rings are shiny again

[TSH Tech]

Yes, toothpaste is like a ultra fine grit sandpaper treatment, which gently scrapes away silver tarnish.

I made this entry again for a completely unrelated, yet related experience with silver.
Since my first post above, I have acquired silver bullion for reason which are off topic. However, along the way, some of the bullion received has been tarnished and since polishing and toothpaste cleaning is a destructive method of cleaning silver bullion, there is a method of removing tarnish without touching silver. It goes as follows;

- Take a ceramic or glass bowl, add a small amount of Sodium Bicarbonate(baking soda) and salt.
(Hmmm, type of water found in SWIMMING POOLS)
- Take a small piece of aluminum foil and place it in the bowl
- boil water on the stove, then pour the water into the bowl
- place silver bullion into the bowl
- within a few seconds, the silver will look fresh, new and shiney

So what is going on here? Apparently, there is a chemical reaction with the salt water that removes the tarnish on the silver, and forces it to attract to the aluminum foil.
Aha!! So, this could explain some burning sensations or other questionable characteristics when silver jewelry is in the swimming pool!

[Chloe]

I've never heard that, might give it a try. I've heard about using vinegar and also ground chalk, which makes sense as that's in toothpaste I think?

[Bryanne77]

The soda and salt only worked, I am amazed and very grateful. I only bought the silver ring last week whilst away from home and was unable to return it.

Thanks