Name the chief ore of silver. Describe with chemical equations the extraction of silver from this ore.

Argentite, which is a sulphide ore, is the chief source of silver.It is extracted by the process of leaching with a dilute solution of sodium cyanide.Silver dissolves and forms a complex, argentocyanide. It is further treated with scrap zinc,which displaces silver from the complex. This is called displacement method orhydrometallurgy. The chemical reactions involved are given below.