Why Gold Is An Amazing Metal And How to Recognize Fake Gold
These are just some of the reasons why gold is so amazing.
Plasticity
Gold is a remarkable metal characterized by its soft, yellow appearance and a beautiful lustrous sheen. Among all the elements in the periodic table, gold stands out as the most malleable and ductile.
Its unique properties allow it to be shaped in ways that are unparalleled in the natural world. Gold is so malleable that it can be carefully rolled into translucent sheets that are almost otherworldly in their thinness.
Furthermore,is so ductile that it can be drawn into extremely fine wires, small enough to be used in semiconductors, contributing to the functioning of electronic devices.
To put this in perspective, just one ounce (about 28 grams) of gold can be transformed into a sheet that spans an astonishing 300 square feet. In this regard, it’s fitting to liken gold to the “plasticine” of metals, given its unparalleled flexibility.
Conductivity
Gold’s extraordinary attributes extend to its conductive properties. It excels as an excellent conductor of both heat and electricity. Among precious materials, silver takes the lead in terms of thermal conductivity and reflectivity.
Nevertheless, gold outshines silver in many practical applications due to its unique characteristics. In electrical engineering, copper and gold are more commonly employed than silver.
Copper is favored for its cost-effectiveness, while gold shines because of its remarkable resistance to corrosion.
Gold does not tarnish, making it an ideal choice for manufacturing durable electrical connectors used in various devices and equipment.
Reactivity
Gold stands out as one of the least reactive elements on the periodic table. This means it does not readily interact with oxygen, and consequently, it never rusts or corrodes.
Gold’s exceptional resistance to environmental factors, such as air, water, alkalis, and most acids, makes it an exceptionally stable element.
It remains unscathed by these substances, except in the case of aqua regia, a potent mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids, which can dissolve gold. The corrosion resistance of gold is one of the reasons why acid analyses are so precise.
While gold does react with halogens, such as chlorine gas, the reaction is slow and can lead to the formation of gold chloride (AuCl3).
Remarkably, with gentle heating, gold chloride can decompose, yielding the pure element. Gold also exhibits resistance to most bases, except for substances like potassium cyanide.
Reflection of Energy
The surface reflectivity of a material is a measure of its ability to reflect radiant energy, which includes radio waves, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation.
Gold, with its exceptional optical properties, is an excellent reflector of electromagnetic radiant energy.
This characteristic, combined with gold’s resistance to environmental factors and its capacity to be deposited in extremely thin films, makes it an incredibly versatile material with a wide range of industrial applications.
For instance, the aerospace industry often utilizes gold to provide protective coatings for satellite and spacesuit components, capitalizing on its unique combination of properties.
As a refining entity, we handle significant quantities of gold, varying in shape, weight, and purity.
Our advanced technology enables us to employ a variety of analyses to determine the precise melting value of any gold item a customer brings to us.
However, there are also straightforward methods to distinguish between an alloy and pure gold:
Discoloration: Pure gold is immune to tarnish, so it’s important to closely examine any item for signs of discoloration. Even slight variations in color can reveal the presence of fake gold.
Magnets: Gold, like most other precious metals, is not magnetic. If an item is attracted to a magnet, it likely contains iron, nickel, or other ferromagnetic materials, and its karat value may not be as stated.
Scratches: Even without the use of acid, a basic scratch test can be effective in detecting many types of fake gold.
The porcelain scratch test can be carried out by gently scratching the item against an unglazed tile or ceramic plate.
If a black streak is left, the item is not made of gold. If the mark is gold in color, the item is more likely to be authentic gold. This may cause a slight scratch on the item, but it should not inflict substantial damage.
Buoyancy Test: To assess an item’s authenticity, you can conduct a buoyancy test by dropping it into a glass of water. Real gold, due to its density, will sink, while many alloys will float.
Additionally, if the item starts to rust or discolor, it may be plated or fake. It’s important to note that while the buoyancy test is effective for small samples like jewelry or alluvial flakes, some metals that resemble gold can still be dense enough to sink.
Therefore, it’s advisable to perform additional tests if there is any uncertainty, and seeking expert advice is always a wise choice.