Which one of the following substances do silver articles react with, that makes the silver articles black ?

Silver articles turn black when exposed to air due to a chemical reaction with sulphur-containing compounds present in the atmosphere [2]. While silver is generally resistant to corrosion, it reacts with traces of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) or other sulphur fumes to form a thin, dark layer of silver sulphide (Ag2S) on its surface [1]. This process is commonly known as tarnishing. Unlike iron, which reacts with oxygen and moisture to form rust, or copper, which reacts with carbon dioxide to form a green carbonate layer, silver's blackening is specifically attributed to the formation of silver sulphide [2]. The reaction typically involves silver reacting with hydrogen sulphide in the presence of oxygen to produce the black silver sulphide coating and water [3]. Therefore, sulphur is the primary substance responsible for the blackening of silver articles.

Sources

1. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > silver > p. 34
2. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals > 3.5 CORROSION > p. 53
3. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnish