Gold
Gold is extremely ductile and malleable. One gram of gold can be drawn into a 100 m long wire. Gold is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, and has a high reflectivity. Gold does not corrode under the influence of air and water. Gold is predominantly used for jewelry, but also in industry for example in electronic circuits and microchips.
Facts about gold
- The chemical symbol of gold is Au, which is from the Latin name for gold: Aurum.
- Atomic number: 79
- Atomic weight: 197.0
- Spec. gravity: 19.32 kg/dm3
- Melting point: 1063 °C
- The unit used to measure the weight of gold is Troy ounce. One ounce is 31.1 grams.
- The most common grade of gold in jewelry is 18 carat. At this number the alloy contains 75% gold and 25% other metals like for instance silver and copper.
- It has been calculated that all the gold on earth would fit inside a cube measuring 20x20x20 meters and with a weight of 155 000 ton.
