Nickel silver is an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc. It is also called German silver because it was first made in Hildburghausen, Germany. It is a yellowish metal that is harder than silver. Nickel silver tarnishes easily, but it takes a good polish. Much of the silverware used today is made of nickel silver plated with real silver. It looks like solid silver when new, but the plate wears off with use. Vinegar and strong salt solutions may combine with nickel silver to form substances that can make people ill. Silver-plated tableware should not be used with these types of liquids after the silver plate has worn off. See also Alloy .
