The equilibrium constant of the complex ion is, then, the ratio of the velocity constants of its decomposition and formation (see p. 94). Now, the ‹velocity constant›, K_{Formation}, represents the concentration, in moles, of the complex ion [Ag(CN)_{3}^{2−}],that is formed in unit time from unit concentrations of its components Ag^{+} and CN^{−}, and it may be considered as the ‹reciprocal› of a ‹time constant›, T_{Formation}, the ‹time› required ‹to form unit concentration› of the complex ion, while the components are maintained at unit concentration. The analogous reciprocal relation holds for the velocity constant, K_{Decomposition}, and a time constant, T_{Decomposition}. The equilibrium equation, therefore, expresses also the following relations:[468] [p234] [Ag^{+}] × [CN^{−}]^3 / [Ag(CN)_{3}^{2−}] = T_{Formation} / T_{Decomposition} = 1 / 10^{22}. In words, the time required for the spontaneous decomposition of one mole of the complex is 10^{22} times as long as the time required to form one mole of the complex, from uniformly unit concentrations of the components. If the concentration of silver-ion is reduced to 1 / 10^{22} and the concentrations of the cyanide-ion and the complex ion are maintained at 1, the formation of the complex takes place 10^{22} times as slowly as when [Ag^{+}] = 1, and a condition of equilibrium is produced, the time required to decompose and to form the same amount of the complex being now equal. This ‹relation› of ‹time constants› may be used to obtain some idea of the consequences of assuming certain limiting values for one or the other, the ratio being maintained at the value 1 / 10^{22}. If the time constant T_{Formation} for the ‹formation of the complex› be taken as one ten-thousandth of a second,[469] then, according to Haber, a molar solution of potassium argenticyanide would not be able to form in thousands of years sufficient silver ions to be discovered by any direct test, a result which is not compatible with the precipitation of silver sulphide and of metallic silver in a few minutes, since silver ions could not be ‹supplied rapidly enough›. It is evident, thus, that the ratio 1 / 10^{22} must indicate an exceedingly small value for T_{Formation}, if only silver ions form silver sulphide and silver.