Of all the elements, silver has the highest degree of
reflectivity, and can reflect up to 95% of visible light.
Silver is used extensively in mirrors and on all types
of surfaces for either reflecting
image, moderating light or dispersing thermal heat.
A major industrial use
of silver is solar pane windows which help maintain internal
building temperatures by reflecting away external
heat from the sun when installed. Automobile windshields
and sunglasses are other examples of this reflective use,
with over half the sunglasses today made today using silver
to moderate glare. And of course, simple silvered mirrors
are manufactured worldwide by the millions. Otherwise silver
plating in general is used in a wide variety of other applications,
from electroplating to silvering everyday items like buttons,
ornaments and kitchen utensils.
