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The Element Gold: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know
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(Boring) Scientific Facts About Gold
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Gold is the 79th element. Its atomic mass is 196.9. It has an electronegativity of 2.54, and it is not very reactive. Its melting point is 1337.58K, and its boiling point is 3130K. Gold has 36 isotopes. The shortest and longest half-lives among its isotopes are 4 milliseconds and 186.1 days, respectively. The atomic symbol for gold is Au, which comes from its Latin name, "aurus", which means "morning blush."
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Gold in Decoration and Art
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Because of its beauty and softness, gold has been one of the most-used decorative metals. Over 90 tonnes are used per year in jewelry, decoration, utensils, and art. It is most widely known for its use in jewelry, an example of which is shown to the right (ring by Tiffany's & Co.) Gold is also used to adorn domes, ceilings, and statues of public and private buildings. It is used to accent paintings, china, porcelain, and silverware, to name a few. Gold is even plated on the windows of large office buildings. It acts as insulation and can cut down on cooling and heating costs by as much as 40%.
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Uses of Gold in Technology and Dentistry
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Gold has incredible malleability, ductility, resistance to corrosion, and reflectivity. It is also one of the best thermal and electrical conductors. Because of this, it is used widely in electronics. Gold appears in such household items as touch-tone phones, calculators, washing machines, televisions, and computers. Electrical circuits, switches, and relays are electroplated or wired with gold to make them safer and more durable. Over 150 tonnes of gold are used annually in electronics. Gold is also widely used in dental work. Historians have shown that Etruscans in the seventh century BC used gold wire to fix substitute teeth. Combined with platinum, silver, or copper, gold alloys are used because of their malleability and non-allergic properties. The amount of gold used in dentistry is about 60 tonnes per year.
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