A bit of science used gold as a metal

Due to its distinct physical and chemical characteristics, the precious chemical element known as gold has attracted people for thousands of years. I'll go over some of these characteristics in this essay and talk about why gold is such a valuable and coveted metal.

Gold may be sculpted into a multitude of forms and sizes because of its soft, malleable, and ductile physical characteristics. Gold is useful in the production of electronic equipment and other modern products because it is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Due to its high density, gold is a heavy metal compared to its size. Because gold is so dense, it can be used as an X-ray and radiation barrier for machinery.

Intriguing chemical characteristics are also present in gold. Because gold is a noble metal, it is impervious to oxidation and corrosion. Gold is really one of the metals that resists corrosion the best, which makes it perfect for usage in jewelry and coinage. Gold is extremely stable and secure to handle because it does not readily react with other chemical components. The outstanding catalytic properties of gold allow it to hasten chemical reactions without being consumed.

In karats, the purity of gold is expressed. The purest gold is 24 karat, which is made entirely of gold. The composition of gold with a lower purity, such as 18-karat gold, is 75% gold and 25% other metals. Among these additional metals are silver, copper, and zinc.

Since ancient times, gold has been prized for its brilliance and scarcity. Gold was utilized by the ancient Egyptians to craft jewelry, relics, and coinage. Gold was utilized by the Romans to make coins and embellish structures. Gold is still a very valuable metal today and is used for a wide range of things, including jewelry, electronics, medicine, and the aerospace industry.

Gold is a precious metal with distinct physical and chemical properties, to sum up. Due to its malleability, density, and conductivity, it may be used for a wide range of purposes, and due to its resistance to oxidation and corrosion, it is perfect for jewelry and coinage. Although gold has been prized since antiquity, its worth is still great now because of its beauty, scarcity, and adaptability.

Because gold is a noble metal, it resists oxidation. It does not rust or corrode easily when things are normal. However, it might undergo oxidation in the presence of chemicals or under very extreme circumstances.

Knowing the oxidation states of both gold and the other reacting elements is important to determine the oxidation of gold. For instance, the oxidation state of gold can be computed as follows if oxygen combines with it to generate gold oxide (Au2O3):

The reaction's chemical equation is:

4 Au + 3 O2 → 2 Au2O3

In this scenario, gold has an undetermined oxidation state (x) and oxygen has an oxidation state of -2. Each atom in a molecule or compound has an oxidation state that adds up to zero.

As a result, we can establish the equation shown below:

4x + 3(-2) = 0

Solving for x, we get:

4x - 6 = 0

4x = 6

x = 6/4

x = 1.5

The oxidation state of gold in this reaction is hence +1.5. It is important to keep in mind that the oxidation state of gold might change based on the other substances involved in the reaction and the particular circumstances of the reaction. Additionally, gold typically works as a reducing agent rather than an oxidizing agent in chemical processes.

Gold's purity and temperature have an impact on its electrical resistance. At normal temperature, pure gold has a resistance of 2.44 x 10-8 ohm-meters, making it a superb electrical conductor. It can conduct electricity effectively and has a low electrical resistance as a result.

The following formula can be used to determine the electrical resistance of a piece of gold with specific dimensions:

R = ρ x L/A

Where L is the conductor's length in meters, A is its cross-sectional area in square meters, R is the electrical resistance expressed in ohms, and is the resistivity of gold expressed in ohm-meters.

Consider a piece of gold wire, for instance, that is 1 meters long, 1 millimeters wide, and has a cross-sectional area of 7.85 x 10-7 square meters. At normal temperature, gold has a 2.44 x 10-8 ohm-meter resistivity.

We can determine the electrical resistance of the gold wire by applying the formula:

R = (2.44 x 10^-8 ohm-meters) x (1 meter) / (7.85 x 10^-7 square meters)

R = 3.11 x 10^-2 ohms

As a result, the gold wire has an electrical resistance of 0.0311 ohms. Given that the resistance is so low, gold is a superb electrical conductor.

It should be noted that when temperature rises, the electrons become more agitated and find it harder to pass through the metal, which might result in an increase in gold's resistance. Therefore, it is essential to consider this effect and utilize conductive materials appropriate for the operating temperature in applications where temperature plays a significant role.

Bibliography Reference

Electrical Properties of Gold Nanowires: Nanoscale Investigations of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Gold por Petra Tegeder, 2013.

Physics for science and technology. II by Paul Allen Tipler, ‎Gene Mosca, 2004.