Today, gold is valued all over the world. There is not a single girl who would not dream of gold jewelry. Precious metal has gained immense popularity for a long time. Even in ancient times, with its help, jewelry, charms and dishes were made. Today it is not difficult to purchase a gold product. Numerous jewelry stores offer a huge assortment.
A bit of history
Few people know that gold is the first metal that was found by mankind. From the Neolithic era begins the story of the discovery of a chemical element. Gold for several millennia BC was widely used in ancient Egypt, China, Rome, India. The mention of the precious metal can be found in the Odyssey, the Bible and other monuments of ancient literature. Ancient alchemists called gold "the king of metals." And it was designated by the symbol of the sun.
In those places where the first civilizations were born, just the same, they began to mine gold on a large scale. This is the eastern Mediterranean, Indus Valley, North Africa. Gold prefers loneliness. Most often it is found in a native form. In ancient times, metal was collected manually. To collect one gram of gold, I had to work for days.
Closely related to various geographical discoveries is the history of the chemical element. Gold was found almost immediately on the new earth.
Gold in nature
The chemical element Gold is widely distributed in nature. On average, the lithosphere contains about 4.3 · 10 - 7 %, based on the mass. The cost of metal is high due to the complexity of its mining. Gold is also found in igneous rocks. Here it is scattered. A hydrothermal gold deposit is formed in the earth's crust, which plays a huge role in industry. In a native state, this metal is most often mined in ores. Only in rare cases are minerals formed with bismuth, antimony, selenium, etc.
The chemical element Gold is also found in the biosphere. Here he migrates in combination with various organic compounds. In river suspensions one can often find metal. One liter of natural water may contain about 4 · 10 -9 % of precious metal. In places of gold deposits in groundwater, gold can be contained in much larger quantities. As the history of the chemical element testifies, gold was found even in the form of whole deposits of precious metal underground.
Today, gold is mined in 40 countries. The main reserves of precious metal are concentrated in the CIS countries, Canada, South Africa.
Physical properties of the precious metal
Gold is a fairly ductile metal. It is easily mechanically impacted. Good quality gold can be pulled into wire or forged into flat sheets. The metal is resistant to various chemical influences, easily conducts electricity and heat. The density of gold at room temperature is about 19.32 g / cm 3 .
The chemical element Gold is characterized by a bright yellow color, provided that there are no impurities. But pure gold is almost never found in nature. Even in bank bullions, metal is not represented in perfectly pure form. In nature, it is found with the addition of silver, copper, etc.
Gold is fairly easy to polish. Due to its good reflective ability, metal is very much appreciated in jewelry. It is amazing that even the sun's rays can pass through thin sheets of precious metal. At the same time, their temperature will decrease. It is no coincidence that in modern construction the chemical element Gold is used to tint windows.
Chemical properties of gold
As the history of the discovery of the chemical element testifies, Gold was known long before the appearance of the periodic table. But in it, metal takes pride of place. In the table, Gold is indicated under atomic number 79 and is denoted by the Latin letters Au. The valency of a precious metal in chemical compounds is most often +1 or +3.
For many centuries, chemists have carried out a huge number of experiments on gold. It was found that oxygen and sulfur, which have an aggressive effect on most metals, have absolutely no effect on gold. An exception can only be its atoms on the surface.
The composition of gold determines its chemical properties. The metal does not react with phosphorus, hydrogen, nitrogen. But with halogens, Gold forms compounds when heated. With chlorine and
bromine water , a reaction occurs even at room temperature.
These reagents are available only in laboratories. But in everyday life, a danger to the metal can be a solution of potassium iodide and iodine.
Mineral acids and alkalis in most cases do not affect gold. It is on this property that the method for determining the authenticity of a precious metal is based. Few people know how to find gold among many jewelry. Decoration is poured with nitric acid. Gold under the influence of a chemical substance will not change its appearance. But another metal can react.
How is gold found?
Most often, gold is mined from alluvial deposits. In this case, the method of elutriation is used. It is based on the difference in density of gangue and gold. How to get high-quality gold, only true professionals in their field can know.
Popular methods are amalgamation and cyanidation. Thus, gold began to be mined in America and Africa at the end of the nineteenth century. Today, indigenous deposits are the main sources of precious metal production. The composition of gold may depend on the rocks that are nearby. And also from the climatic environment.
Initially, the gold rock is crushed and treated with a solution of sodium or potassium cyanide. Further, the material is purified by electrolysis. Prepare a bath with hydrochloric acid solution in advance. When current flows through the rock, impurities precipitate. The result is a refined precious metal.
Where is gold used?
Many are familiar with gold in the shape of jewelry. Meanwhile, metal is widely used in various industries. In this case, the composition of gold may be somewhat different. Alloys with other metals are often used quite often. Thus, not only is expensive material saved, but also its strength is increased. Precious metal becomes more resistant to various mechanical damage.
The quality of gold used in industry is indicated by breakdown. Thus, it can be ascertained how “pure” the material is. Most often, the precious metal is diluted with copper. Silver alloys can be used in electrical engineering. The most expensive are alloys of gold with platinum. Such material is used in the jewelry industry, as well as in the manufacture of chemically stable equipment. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Gold compounds have also been used in photography. Using a chemical element, tinting was performed.
Gold as an element of art
Gold has been used in jewelry since ancient times. Today this type of industry is one of the most profitable. Many products developed by designers were launched. But today, handmade jewelry remains relevant. The manufacture of such products is a real art that deserves close attention.
Since the discovery of the chemical element, people began to use gold for making jewelry and various decorations. Today, designers who not only develop products, but also perform them on their own, have good earnings. Handwork in conjunction with expensive material gives an excellent result. All jewelry is beautiful and original.
Gold in the economy
In terms of commodity production, it is gold that performs the function of universal equivalent. The value of this metal is difficult to overestimate. The material has its own consumer value. In many cases, precious metal can even replace money. And gold is valued due to its properties. It can act as the best money item. Gold is stored for a long time, does not lend itself to chemical attack, is easily divided and processed.
The same ingot can be used in industry, and then, with a little processing, it can become a material for making jewelry. We can say that this precious metal is immortal.
Banking sector
In ancient times, gold was used only for the manufacture of jewelry. Further, it became an excellent means of saving and accumulating wealth. Those who knew how to get gold did not need to think about tomorrow. After all, precious metal was quite expensive at all times.
Today, gold is widely used for making coins. But the precious metal does not enter the cash flow. Coins or bars are held in financial institutions as savings. Investing in precious metals today is at the peak of popularity. Thus, you can not only save money, but also increase it.
What does the test mean?
With the development of industry, many companies have learned to make high-quality jewelry, which outwardly practically does not differ from real gold. An unscrupulous seller can easily sell a “dummy” to a gullible buyer. Therefore, everyone should know how to choose the right gold product.
First of all, the quality of this precious metal is determined by the breakdown. Even if the jewelry goes on sale from abroad, it is put on the state stamp. The most common are products of the 585th test. They contain 58.5% of pure gold. Products 999 samples in mass sale are not found. But on the bullion, which fill the state gold fund, is 990 test.
What will the color tell?
Gold items of the same sample may vary in color. The appearance of the finished thing depends on impurities. Platinum and nickel give the alloy a light shade. Copper and cobalt allow you to get jewelry in a dark color.
Rose gold is very popular today . Such an alloy is obtained by the addition of silver and copper. But exclusive black gold is created using cobalt and chrome. In many cases, consumers overpay for fashion trends. Moreover, the gold content in the product may be minimal. In just a few years, the decoration can depreciate. Therefore, preference should still be given to the classic yellow metal.
How to confirm the quality of jewelry?
Many may wish to find out the true value of jewelry. You can contact a private expert, but in this case the result will not be documented. The exact percentage of gold and impurities in jewelry can be determined at the State Assay Supervision Inspectorate. After the procedure, the consumer is issued a certificate confirming the quality. The product itself does not deteriorate during the examination.
Where to buy gold?
It all depends on the ultimate goals. If you need to buy jewelry as a gift, you can contact any specialized store. Much cheaper quality gold jewelry can be purchased online. Preference should be given to traditional yellow gold. In it, precious metal in its pure form is contained in the greatest quantity. Such a product can last a long time and will even be inherited.
For investment banking gold bars are suitable. Each financial institution offers its own conditions for the purchase of gold. But the most profitable investments do not necessarily guarantee reliability. Preference should be given to banks that have been operating for more than 10 years and receive positive feedback from existing customers.