Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 1

We do get some interesting questions.

The Lone Ranger was a television


series that ran from 1949 to 1957 and recounted the adventures of a former
Texas Ranger who with his companion, the Native American Tonto, fought
outlaws in the Old West. His trademarks were a black mask and silver
bullets!  
It is unlikely that the bullets would have tarnished since the concentration of
hydrogen sulphide in the desert air of the Old West was undoubtedly very
low. Contrary to popular belief, the tarnish on silver is not caused by reaction
of the metal with oxygen in the air. The culprit is hydrogen sulphide, a gas
that reacts with silver to form solid silver sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide occurs
in air both naturally, and as a result of human activity. Many proteins contain
sulphur and release hydrogen sulphide when they decompose. The odour of
rotten eggs, for example, is due to this compound, and natural gas, which is
the end product of the decomposition of organic matter is also a rich source
of hydrogen sulphide.   
Volcanic eruptions and natural hot springs also release the gas. And it forms
as well when carbonyl sulphide, a sulphur compound emitted from volcanoes
and deep sea vents reacts with moisture. Then there is human activity.
Petroleum contains a variety of sulphur compounds that have to be removed
in order to prevent the formation of sulphur dioxide when petroleum burns.
In the “hydrodesulphurization” process, petroleum is reacted with hydrogen
resulting in the conversion of sulphur compounds to hydrogen sulphide. The
hydrogen sulphide is then converted to sulphur, but inevitably some of the
gas is released into the atmosphere.   
Since there were no petroleum refineries in the old west, nor sea vents or
volcanoes, tarnishing of silver was not likely to be extensive. Unless of
course the Lone Ranger and Tonto were fond of beans. Human flatus is a rich
source of hydrogen sulphide. But there is no evidence that the duo favoured
beans, so we can assume that the Lone Ranger’s silver bullets were bright
and shiny. Where the masked man got those bullets is more of a mystery. He
surely didn’t melt silver over a campfire and pour it into moulds. Lead bullets
can be made that way because lead has a relatively low melting point at
327oC. But silver melts at a scorching 960oC, and you don’t get that over a
campfire. You also need a graphite

You might also like