Gold

Gold
Properties
Atomic symbol	Au
Atomic number
Classification	Group 11, Coinage metals
Atomic mass	196.967
Number of Stable Isotopes	197
Number of Unstable Isotopes	190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200
Melting point (°C)	1,064
Boiling point (°C)	2,807
Density (grams per cc)	19.3
Hardness (Moh's scale)	2.5-3.0
Abundance in lithosphere (%)	0.0000005
Oxidation states	+1, +3
Other Information
Date of discovery	Early antiquity
Uses	Coinage, ornamentation, electronics, dentistry
Obtained from	Mining

Gold is a chemical element. Gold is in group 11, the copper group, it has 79 protons in its nucleus. It is a precious metal which has been used as currency. Gold is found in nature as nuggets or grains in rocks, underground and in deposits. It is soft and shiny, and the only metal that is yellow. Gold does not tarnish or corrode, or easily combine with other substances, and thus is found in nature as pure gold.

Gold is significant politically, economically, and culturally. Gold, because of how scarce it is, prevents inflation when currency is based on gold, as when currency can be exchanged for gold. Politically, for much of American history the Republican Party has favored "hard money" (a gold-only standard for currency) while the Democrat Party has favored "soft money" which also uses silver or nothing as a basis for currency.

“

With the exception only of the period of the gold standard, practically all governments of history have used their exclusive power to issue money to defraud and plunder the people. — Friedrich August von Hayek

”

Purity

The purity of gold in a compound is measured in Karats, with 24 karats being pure gold. 18 karat gold is three quarters gold, one quarter other elements, and so forth. Gold is usually in alloys because it is soft and pliable.

Value

Due to its characteristics being both resistant to oxidization and rarity on Earth, gold is seen as very valuable. Gold is the basis for a monetary standard used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Gold is currently in excess of $1500 per ounce.

Uses

Because gold is highly conductive and very resistant to oxidation, it is vital in electronics. Gold plating is used on switch contacts, printed circuit boards, and device leads. There is enough gold in electronic devices to make it worthwhile to process discarded devices in order to reclaim the gold in them.

World Production (2018)

Gold production by country in 2018.

Rank	Country	Production (kg)	Production (%)
1	China	404.1	12.17
2	Australia	314.9	9.48
3	Russian Federation	297.3	8.95
4	United States	221.7	6.67
5	Canada	189	5.69
6	Peru	158.4	4.77
7	Indonesia	136.9	4.12
8	Ghana	130.5	3.93
9	South Africa	129.8	3.91
10	Mexico	115.4	3.47
11	Brazil	97.1	2.92
12	Uzbekistan	92.5	2.78
13	Sudan	76.6	2.31
14	Papua New Guinea	69.1	2.08
15	Kazakhstan	68.4	2.06
16	Mali	61.2	1.84
17	Argentina	60	1.81
18	Burkina Faso	59.3	1.79
19	Tanzania	47.7	1.44
20	Dem. Rep. of the Congo	44.9	1.35
21	Colombia	43	1.29
22	Zimbabwe	42.2	1.27
23	Côte d'Ivoire	40.9	1.23
24	Philippines	36.8	1.11
25	Chile	36.5	1.10
26	Suriname	34.3	1.03
27	Dominican Republic	31.6	0.95
28	Guinea	27.3	0.82
29	Guyana	25.6	0.77
30	Turkey	24.9	0.75
31	Bolivia	24.1	0.73
32	Venezuela	23	0.69
33	Mongolia	22.6	0.68
34	Kyrgyzstan	22.1	0.67
35	Senegal	17.5	0.53
36	Egypt	14.7	0.44
37	Nigeria	14	0.42
38	Ecuador	11.5	0.35
39	Iran	11	0.33
40	Ethiopia	11	0.33
41	New Zealand	9.3	0.28
42	Finland	8.3	0.25
43	Sweden	7.9	0.24
44	Bulgaria	6.8	0.20

Gold was one of the three Gifts of the Magi, along with frankincense and myrrh.

Gold is also used in jewelry. However, the New Testament instructs Christian women not to wear gold or pearls. Other uses of gold include aerospace, awards, bullion, coinage, computers, currency backing, dentistry, electronics, glassmaking, gold gilding and gold leaf and medical.

See also

• Fiat currency
• Inflation hedge
• Gold standard
• Silver
• Precious metal