Why is silver called the ag element?

Answer 1

Ag comes from the original Latin name of silver: Argentum That said, in 20+ years of being a chemist, I have NEVER heard anyone call silver "the ag element."

Answer 2

Silver's chemical symbol, Ag, comes from its Latin name "argentum." The Latin word comes from the Greek word "argyros," which means "white" or "shiny." This was likely due to silver's shiny and reflective properties.