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What is gold? First, gold is a metal. People love gold because it is attractive and useful. If we go back in history, we would discover that of all the metals, people wanted gold more than any other. What makes gold so desirable? Gold is a beautiful yellow color and glows or shines. It is easy to shape and can be turned into thin sheets. While some metals tarnish, gold does not change color. It also doesn’t rust. As you will learn from this website, gold has been mined in locations in the United States and around the world. Gold was one of the first metals to be discovered and, through the ages, it has been molded into jewelry and money. What are properties of gold? There are two different properties – physical and chemical. One physical property of gold is that it is a shiny metal. Its name in Latin, aurum, means shining gold. Although gold may seem hard to you, it is really considered a soft metal and that is what makes it so malleable. Malleability is another physical property of gold. Malleability means it can be pressed into thin sheets, and it will not break. Another physical property is ductility, which means that gold can be made into thin wire to conduct electricity. Gold conducts electricity better than most metals. Only silver and copper conduct electricity better. A chemical property of gold is that it is stable. It remains gold and does not wear away or crumble or rust. It is not affected by water or oxygen. What are the uses of gold? Gold is usually mixed with other metals to form an alloy or mixture. The amount of gold in an alloy is referred to in karats. If you have a 14 karat gold ring, it has less gold than an 18 karat gold ring. Gold can also be used to make money. All countries accept gold in payment for a country’s debt. The gold is melted to form bars that look like bricks called ingots. The United States government keeps its gold bars in a safe in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Gold is also used in computers, radios, television, and other electronics. Dentists use gold to fix cavities. Artists use thin sheets of gold called gold leaf in their works. |
