Question

What is Gold?

What is the history of Gold in different cultures?

Why do we still use gold?

Answer 1

1. A soft, yellow, corrosion-resistant element that occurs in veins and alluvial deposits and is recovered by mining or panning or sluicing, the most maleable and ductile metal. Gold is a good heat and electricity conductor and is not affected by air and most reagents. A good thermal and electrical conductor, gold is typically alloyed to improve its strength and is used as an international monetary standard, in jewelry, for decoration and as a plated coating on a wide range of electrical and mechanical components. This element's Atomic Number is 79 and Au is the Element Symbol.

2. Ancient Egyptians believed gold to be representative of the gods ' bodies, leading them to use gold in funeral ceremonies. Many pharaoh tombs contained lavish decorations and offerings of gold, including in the sarcophagi that enclosed mummies. Wall paintings depict the goldsmithing process of the Egyptians, from weighing the metal to showing the finished item. Such craftsmen have produced many methods, some of which are still being used in today's refined form.

Use gold as a form of currency originated in ancient Greece, the oldest known coin being the creseid. Early gold coins had an irregular shape and were stamped on one side only. Later in Rome, this monetary tradition was refined. Gold became important for Greek trade from the fifth to third centuries BC. And the increasing economic value of gold meant that there was less artistic use of the precious metal. With their jewelry and other valuable items, however, the dead were buried so that they could continue to "live" in the afterlife.

Gold has been a common material in jewelry since around 1100 BC and especially for elaborate temple decorations. One of the most well-known examples is the Forbidden City in Beijing, which features golden furniture, ornaments, draperies and accessories. Japan also has temples that are entirely decorated in gold. In fact, Bangkok, Thailand, is home to the world's largest solid gold statue. Between 1600 and 1750, the Golden Buddha was founded.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, gold use became popular in Europe. Gold-decorated churches and religious objects, as has taken on a central role in Christian worship. As seen in the clothing and accessories of kings, emperors, and popes, Gold also became symbolic of the face of the state. Gold was used for medicinal purposes in this area during the first century BCE to treat wounds caused by "magic potions," and gold was used for dental work as a replacement for animal teeth beginning in the 7th century BCE.

3. Gold's special properties make it perfect for jewelry making. These include: very high luster; attractive yellow colour; resistance to tarnish; ability to pull into wires, hammer into plates, or cut into shapes. These are all properties of an attractive metal that can be easily transformed into beautiful objects. Tradition is another extremely important element for the use of gold as a jewelry material. It is expected that important objects will be made of gold.

Gold's most important industrial use is in electronics manufacturing. Solid state electronic devices use very low voltages and currents that are easily disrupted at the contact points by corrosion and tarnish. Gold is the highly efficient conductor capable of carrying these small currents and remaining corrosion-free. Gold-based electronic components are highly reliable. Gold is used in connectors, contacts to switch and relay, soldered joints, wires to link and strips to attach.