How can you tell if something is real silver?

Real silver is identified by its sound, its lack of magnetic qualities and by its ability to conduct heat. For instance, when tapped together, two silver coins emit a high, clear tone. The bell-like ring continues for a second or two.

Silver is not attracted to magnets, so a small piece of the metal is not moved by a bigger magnet. Similarly, a small magnet does not stick to a larger silver object. Finally, silver seems to make ice melt at a faster rate than it typically does when out of the freezer. The metal is a good conductor of heat, so the melting process speeds up when an ice cube is placed on a piece of silver.