GOLD (Au – aurum)
A precious metal with a yellow color, very soft, malleable and ductile.
Physical Properties
Basic physical parameters of gold:
Chemical Properties
Gold is a precious metal that does not rust, does not tarnish, and is resistant to oxygen, air, and acids. It dissolves only in aqua regia (a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acid) and cyanide solutions.
Natural Occurrence
Gold occurs in nature extremely rarely – much rarer than other metals. It surrounds us but in trace amounts. For example, seawater contains 0.01 mg of gold per cubic meter. Trace amounts of gold are also found in oatmeal, hazelnuts, and living organisms.
Forms of Occurrence
Gold in its pure, native form occurs as flakes, nuggets, or scales. Gold lumps, so-called nuggets, also occur. It most commonly appears as solid solutions with other metals, mainly silver.
Applications
The metal, usually in the form of alloys with silver, copper, and platinum (very rarely in pure form), is used among others in:
History and Significance
Gold is one of the earliest known metals – its color and luster made it visible in river gravels, high density facilitated extraction, and malleability – processing.
World Production
Today's world gold production is maintained at around 2,300 tons per year. Although it is extracted in nearly 60 countries, the truly significant producers are:
Gold Today
It is estimated that over 130,000 tons of this metal have been extracted so far, of which about 60% is in private hands mainly in the form of jewelry. Once, due to the rarity of gold, only the wealthiest could afford to own it. Today, gold has become accessible to almost everyone.
Capital of Gold Jewelry
The capital of the goldsmith industry in Europe is Italy – a powerhouse in gold jewelry production. Trends in gold jewelry have changed over the centuries as often as in fashion. Goldsmiths continue to observe the surrounding world and try to capture changing customer preferences and create modern and unique collections.
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