How to Make Mirrors by Silvering Glass

Last Updated: May 14, 2024

Modern mirrors are made by depositing aluminum. But back in the Victorian era aluminum wasn't available and so they made their mirrors using silver metal. Using silver nitrate (available online, or can be made in another wikiHow) you can make your own mirrors.

Steps

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-1.jpg\/aid562135-v4-728px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Get 1 gram of silver nitrate and 1 gram (0.035 oz) of sodium hydroxide in separate containers and add enough water to both to dissolve them. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-2.jpg\/aid562135-v4-728px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":352,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":557,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

A black precipitate of silver oxide will form.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-3.jpg\/aid562135-v4-722px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":356,"bigWidth":723,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

^{[2]
X
Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-4.jpg\/aid562135-v4-708px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":364,"bigWidth":708,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-5.jpg\/aid562135-v4-728px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Place your article you want to silver into the solution, or pour the solution into a tray containing your article (for larger articles like glass panes)
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-6.jpg\/aid562135-v4-727px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":354,"bigWidth":727,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Boiling tears the silver off the surface
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-7.jpg\/aid562135-v4-728px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":351,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":556,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Eventually the solution will turn to a cream color and your article is now silvered, take it out and wipe off the silver from where you don't want it.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-8.jpg\/aid562135-v4-717px-Make-Mirrors-by-Silvering-Glass-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":359,"bigWidth":718,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.5\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Video

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Why can't this process be used to make front silvered mirrors?

Community Answer

The surface of the glass is perfectly smooth, so it will be a perfect mirror. The surface on the silver metal itself is not smooth enough to be a mirror. It will be nearly smooth like the dull side of aluminum foil, which is not smooth enough for a mirror.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 21
Question

Silver nitrate is explosive, isn't it?

Community Answer

Silver nitrate is corrosive, but not explosive. It may cause abrasions or burns to the skin.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 12 Helpful 23
Question

What chemical is on the back of the mirror?

Community Answer

The chemical is a mixture of silver nitrate, sodium hydroxide, water, ammonia and sugar.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 20 Helpful 31

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

This process produces back-silvered mirrors. Which is the same type of mirror as most domestic mirrors. Front-silvered mirrors cannot be made by this process.

Thanks
Helpful 31 Not Helpful 13
use tape to cover up parts you don't want to silver.

Thanks
Helpful 34 Not Helpful 16
The glass must be VERY clean. Oil and dirt will give bad bonding of the silver.

Thanks
Helpful 36 Not Helpful 19

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Upon heating the solution will emit ammonia fumes, so do this outside or in a well-ventilated area.

Thanks
Helpful 16 Not Helpful 5
When you're done, flush all chemicals and clean all surfaces with lots of water.

Thanks
Helpful 12 Not Helpful 5
Perform the whole setup to finish in less than two hours, or else the solution may produce a potentially explosive concentration of silver nitride/imide/amide. (See "The Hazards Associated with Silvering Mirrors, Vacuum Flasks, etc.", Health and Safety Executive OC 687/7)

Thanks
Helpful 19 Not Helpful 11
Keep away from children or pets while you're doing this.

Thanks
Helpful 13 Not Helpful 8
Hydrochloric acid and Sodium Hydroxide will burn'" your skin if you get it on you.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

[1]

[2]

Log in

How to Make Mirrors by Silvering Glass

Steps

Video

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Did this article help you?

About This Article

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories