Gold is a very important element in a variety of applications. It is a strong conductor of electricity and resists corrosion.
Gold is also the most malleable and ductile metal. It is able to be beaten into thin sheets that are only a few millionths of an inch thick.
Physical Properties
Gold is a metal with many unique and interesting properties. One of its primary ones is that it’s a very malleable metal.
It is the most ductile of all elements, and can be drawn into wires of single-atom width. It can also be beaten into thin sheets that are semi-transparent, like gold leaf.
This gives it the ability to reflect up to 98 percent of infrared radiation. This property has been exploited by scientists to use it on space-suit visors and the windows of large buildings.
It is also corrosion-resistant and a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is unaffected by air and most reagents, which makes it an excellent choice for use in many applications.
Chemical Properties
Gold is a naturally occurring chemical compound that has atomic number 79. It is a dense, yellow, ductile metal that has many applications including electronics, jewellery and art.
It is also a good conductor of heat and electricity and does not tarnish. It is a very corrosion resistant element and is widely used in alloys to enhance its strength.
Gold is one of the most malleable and ductile metals that can be drawn into wires and made into sheets. It is a highly versatile metal and has long been used in jewelry, dental work, and plating.
Economical Properties
Gold is one of the most popular precious metals used for investment. It offers diversification, a strong hedge against inflation and is a safe-haven asset in times of financial uncertainty.
In monetary systems, gold is used as the standard economic unit of account or a fixed weight of currency. Currencies issued under the gold standard are either coins or notes that are guaranteed to be redeemable in gold at a specified price.
Mining gold is a highly energy-intensive and risky endeavor, and only a small fraction of the Earth’s known supply can be profitably mined. The energy needed to heave, grind and process ore, combined with the rising cost of power, makes extraction economically difficult for most large, easy-to-mine deposits.
Gold prices are influenced by many factors, including current events in the world economy, geopolitical conflict, the supply and demand of gold bullion, and market speculation. The spot price for gold fluctuates daily. Investors can buy physical gold or build gold portfolios using contracts, futures and derivatives.
Environmental Properties
Gold occurs in a variety of forms, ranging from very small to microscopic particles embedded in rock, to flakes or grains and larger nuggets. It is most commonly associated with quartz, pyrite and other minerals.
Free flakes, grains or nuggets are generally found in placer deposits that form when water ishes them from rocks and moves them down a stream. When the flow slows, it is usually possible to separate these from the riverbed soil and clay by a process called panning.
The gold that is deposited in these alluvial deposits may contain trace elements that are toxic to humans. They include hexavalent chromium (Cr), nickel, cadmium and zinc.
