Gold is one of the most popular metals in the world. It is used in jewellery, electronics and glass. It can be given a variety of colors, depending on the other metals alloyed with it.
It is also used in electroplating to protect copper and silver components from corrosion. It doesn’t react with oxygen and is a good conductor of electricity, making it an ideal choice for protecting your metals from damage and helping them last longer.
Chemically, gold is a transition metal and the most un-reactive of all the chemical elements. It is insoluble in water, alkalis and all acids except aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid).
In the mining industry, gold is extracted from ores by leaching or heap-leaching. Typically, a weak cyanide solution is sprinkled on the ore and percolates through it, dissolving gold as it goes. It is then recovered from the slurry.
Jewellery and electronics consume around 75% of the gold produced worldwide. It is often alloyed with other metals and its value increases with the amount of alloyed gold that is present.
It can be beaten into thin sheets, like gold leaf, which is used for lettering on school honour rolls or putting it onto picture frames and ornaments. It is also a good conductor of heat and electricity.
It is often plated on other metals to give them a more attractive appearance or to improve their solderability. It is particularly effective in the electronic industry because it doesn’t react with oxygen and is able to withstand electrical connections that create elevated temperatures.