Facts and Information About Gold for Kids
Gold is such an enthralling metal that learning about its various properties is a mind-boggling learning experience. There is no way to exhaust the amount of information available about this fascinating substance. It has been mentioned in thousands of articles, books, films, commercials, and web pages, among other things. Additionally, several companies manufacture gold items that can be given as gifts to both children and adults.
The following article provides important and useful physical facts about gold for children.
What Is Gold?
Gold is the 3rd element in the 11th column of the periodic table, and its atomic structure classifies it as a transitional element. On the monetary system, it is symbolized by the sign Au. What is the symbol’s actual meaning? It is the Latin equivalent of the word ‘Aurum,’ which means ‘gold.’ Its melting point is 1064°C and boiling point 1064°C.
History of Gold
It’s worth noting that gold has existed, been known about, and used since the dawn of recorded history. This is an intriguing gold fact that you should be aware of. Egypt, for example, was well-known almost 5,000 years ago for its use of gold, and other ancient civilizations quickly followed suit. Gold has been recognized as a valuable, precious metal since Ancient Egypt and has served as a symbol of riches in several cultures around the globe.
Gold, like platinum and silver, is a mineral that is only found in trace amounts in the Earth’s outer crust layer. The Earth’s crust contains platinum-like metals such as platinum and silver and their complexes with gold. As a result, it is feasible that the pure form may be discovered on Earth, although this is quite improbable.
Characteristics of Gold
Numerous characteristics combine to make gold one of the most desired metals. The following list summarizes some of the critical qualities of gold that contribute to its value:
- Like its other family members, gold is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, which is true even in its purest form.
- It reflects a substantial amount of infrared light.
- Gold is a reddish-yellow metal in its most pure state. Silver and grey are the only two other non-white metals, making gold one of only four non-white metals.
- The malleability of gold is another distinguishing property. Along with gold’s low reactivity, the fact that gold does not corrode is why it is an ideal metal for jewelry.
- The dissolving of gold is authorized to utilize only nitro hydrochloric acid, sodium cyanide, or potassium cyanide solutions.
- Aqua regia, or ‘royal water,’ is the common name for nitro-hydrochloric acid due to its propensity to dissolve platinum, the most expensive metal. According to some estimations, one cubic meter of pure gold might weigh up to 19,300 pounds.
Uses of Gold
Gold is not limited to financial purposes. This valuable metal is employed in various sectors, including technology, jewelry, medical, and other fields. Here are just a few of the several ways you may maximize your investment in this metal:
- Gold is primarily utilized in jewelry manufacturing. Over half of all new gold is used to make jewelry, with the other half going to investment and industry.
- Due to the fragility of pure gold, alloying it with other metals such as copper, silver, and palladium is necessary.
- Gold is widely used to provide corrosion-resistant electrical connections in computers and other electronic devices.
- It is used in both restorative dentistry and medicine. The anti-inflammatory properties of gold salts, which are utilized to formulate medications to alleviate the pain and swelling associated with rheumatoid arthritis, may benefit patients who suffer from the illness.
Other Important Facts About Gold for Children
When it comes to pricey jewelry, coins, and works of art, affluence has traditionally been linked with gold. Scientists have found that it has extraordinary abilities.
Explore these interesting facts about gold better to grasp this renowned metal and its one-of-a-kind atomic structure.
- Gold is classed as a chemical element on the periodic table.
- Around 6000 years ago, ancient peoples found gold in the Middle East.
- The letter Au is used to signify gold.
- With an atomic number of 79, this element is classified as a transition metal.
- In weight units, 196.96657 u is the standard unit of weight for gold.
- Gold is a transitional metal element that belongs to the platinum group of metals and platinum and palladium.
- Gold is a chemical element that is a member of the copper family’s group 11, a platinum group member, falling under the 6th row of the periodic table.
- Gold is the element’s stable isotope.
- Gold has a melting point of 1,064 degrees Celsius.
- In other terms, gold reaches its boiling point at 5,378 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pure gold is a bright yellow with a reddish tint, and it gleams beautifully.
- Gold is highly sought for due to its rarity.
- Historically, gold was used as a kind of payment (coin).
- Gold is a precious metal that is often utilized in the creation of jewelry and works of art.
- Gold should be used wherever feasible to provide corrosion-free electrical connections.
- For instance, gold is used to treat some malignancies and dental procedures (gold tooth).
- As of 2017, 206,000 tonnes of gold have been extracted and are visible above ground.
- The length of the edge of a perfect cube constructed entirely of above-ground gold is 68.9 feet.
- More than $10 trillion worth of gold is above ground at the current $1,610 per troy ounce (February 2020).
- China is the world’s largest gold producer at the time of this writing.
- Muruntau gold mine in Uzbekistan, Asia, was the world’s biggest gold mine by output in 2014. It is situated in Uzbekistan.
- The term “gold” is considered to originate from the Old English word geolu, meaning “yellow.”
- For hundreds of years, gold has been used to make aesthetically pleasing pieces of jewelry, coinage, and other works of art, like Tutankhamun’s famed burial mask. Among other areas of endeavor, contemporary uses include electronics and dentistry.
- Patients with TB and rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from injectable gold, which has been shown to alleviate pain and swell in both illnesses.
- Gold medals, statues, and trophies are often used to recognize success. Oscar, Olympic, and Nobel Prize winners are all given gold medals as a token of their achievements.
The internet is a great place to start with a vast repository of knowledge and information on almost any topic you could ever want to know about. Maintain a thorough understanding of the fascinating and cool facts about gold that have been shared in this post with your child.
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