Gold element definition
Gold is known as that shiny, lustrous element, and one of
the most important and most valuable elements on the face of the earth. Gold
belongs to the group of transition metals and is located in the same group to
which the elements silver and copper belong. Gold is one of the oldest elements
known to man since ancient times. It goes Some say that it was known before
3400 BC by the Egyptians, and since ancient times gold has been a symbol of
wealth and beauty; The Egyptians were collecting gold only to cover the coffin
of the deceased Pharaoh, as 112 kg of gold was found in the coffin of
Tutankhamun, the ruler of Egypt in the past.[1]
Gold Element Properties
Gold as a chemical element possesses some properties that
distinguish it from other elements, and the most important of these elements
are the following:[2]
1.
The atomic number of gold is 79;
The atomic number is defined as the number of protons in an element's nucleus.
2.
The chemical symbol for the
element on the periodic table is Au.
3.
The atomic weight of gold is
196.9665; It means the average mass of the atom.
4.
The density of gold is 19.3 g/cm3.
5.
The physical state of the element
at room temperature is the solid state.
6.
The boiling point of gold is 2,850
degrees Celsius.
7.
The melting point of gold is
1064.18 degrees Celsius.
8.
The number of isotopes of the
element gold, which expresses the atoms belonging to the same elements with a
difference in the number of neutrons, ranges between 18-59; Of these, only one
isotope is stable, but many synthetic isotopes of gold remain stable for
microseconds or milliseconds before they decay into other elements.
Some facts about the element gold
Here are some facts related to the element of gold: [3]
1.
Gold is the only element that has
a yellow or golden color, and other elements may have the color of gold, but
after oxidation or reaction with other chemicals.
2.
The symbol for the element gold,
Au, is derived from the Latin term Aurum, which means bright dawn or the glow
of sunrise, and the word “gold” is of Germanic origin and means yellow or green.
3.
The element of gold is known as an
element that can be stretched and elongated, and gold is considered the most
flexible, ductile and malleable element. It is possible to form one ounce of
gold to a thin sheet of 27.8 square meters.
4.
Gold is one of the heaviest and
densest elements, although it is not considered toxic, foods and drinks may
contain some gold flakes.
5.
gold is a noble element; This
means that it is chemically inert and inactive. It is also characterized by its
resistance to air, moisture and acidic conditions. Hydrochloronitric, known as
aqua regia, may be used to dissolve the element gold.
6.
Despite the monetary and financial
importance of gold, it is also used in many electrical, electronic, dental and
glass industries.
Gold color
The element of gold is distinguished by its bright yellow
color, and this is one of the qualities that made it an element of exceptional
value through different eras; Thanks to its attractiveness in terms of color
and brightness, and its tremendous durability and malleability, in addition to
its ease of existence in nature as a free and pure element, and due to its
unique qualities, gold was the only universally accepted material in the field
of commodity and commodity exchange.
The element of gold also played a major role in global financial
systems; Gold bars and coins made of gold made up the high-denomination coins,
and from the seventies of the nineteenth century until the First World War,
gold was the main financial standard in the world.[4]
Distinguishing between real and fake gold
Some tests can be performed to distinguish between real
and fake gold, and the most important of
these tests are:[5]
1. Using a water pot
The gold piece is dropped into a pot of water, and if the
piece falls directly to the bottom, it means that it is original; Because real
gold has a higher density, fake gold is lighter and will float on the surface
of the water.
2. Using a magnet
A strong magnet can be used to verify the magnetism of the
gold piece, and if it is attracted, it means that it is not original or not
pure; Because pure gold is not attracted to magnets.
3. Ceramic plate test
The gold piece is rubbed with smooth ceramic. If the gold
pieces leave some black lines on the ceramic, it means that they are not
original, while the golden lines indicate that they are original.
4. Nitric acid test
Gold is characterized by the inability of acids to affect
it, and therefore it is recommended to examine it in nitric acid; If the piece
is dissolved in it, this is sufficient evidence that it is not original gold,
and the person must take care when doing this test, because nitric acid works
to dissolve everything that is not gold.[6]
5. Vinegar test
A person can use white vinegar to clean metals, and it can
also be used to find out whether a piece of gold is real or fine, where the
following steps can be followed:[7]
·
Pour the white vinegar into a
glass beaker, being careful not to add water.
·
Put a piece of gold in a cup of
white vinegar.
·
Leave the gold piece for about 15
minutes.
·
Remove the gold ring and wash it
with water.
Note: Real gold will shine while fake gold will change
color in response to the vinegar.[7]
6. Skin discoloration test
Gold is considered fake if the skin color changes to black
or green, but this test is not considered reliable or accurate because some
people are sensitive to gold, or a person may suffer from an allergy to some
alloys found in gold as well.[8]
7. Consultation with a professional
A jewelry maker or a professional can determine whether
the gold is real or fake, as this method is the surest proven method at all,
and in some cases a person may not have to pay anything to determine whether
the gold is real or not.[8]
References
1.
Justin A. (14-2-2018), "What
is Gold? - Definition, Properties & Uses"، www.study.com,
Retrieved 28-4-2019. Edited.
2.
Stephanie Pappas (15-4-2016),
"Facts
About Gold"، www.livescience.com, Retrieved 28-9-2019.
Edited.
3.
Anne Marie Helmenstine (7-5-2018),
"10
Interesting Gold Facts"، www.thoughtco.com, Retrieved 28-4-2019.
Edited.
4. "Gold", www.britannica.com, Retrieved 7-5-2019. Edited.
5. "How to Tell if Gold Is Real",
www.wikihow.com, Retrieved 14-6-2019. Edited.
6. "How to Tell if Gold Is Real",
www.wikihow.com, Retrieved 22-9-2018. Edited.أ
7. Connie s Owens, "How
Do You Use Vinegar to Find Out If a Ring Is Real Gold or Not?"، www.leaf.tv,
Retrieved 22-9-2018. Edited.
8. Laurie Brenner, "How to Test for
Real Gold"، www.ehow.com, Retrieved 22-9-2018. Edited.
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