Gold+and+Silver

… We rely on gold and silver

Use the resources available to you to research the links between the precious metals, gold and silver, and their technological uses.

Gold’s Unique Properties


 * Dense soft deep yellow metal
 * Chemical symbol – Au – (Aurum – Latin, meaning “Glowing Dawn”
 * Abundance in earths crust (0.004ppm approximately)
 * Nearly twice as heavy as lead
 * Ductile and very malleable (gold leaf to 0.0001mm thickness
 * Not subject to oxidation or corrosion
 * Special chemical characteristics mean gold retains its lustre indefinitely
 * Gold is permanent and it can be recycled
 * Melting point 1,065 ° C, boiling point 2,860 ° C
 * Gold can be buried, squashed, melted or mixed with other metals. It is still Gold

The list below outlines some uses for gold and silver. Some are historic or traditional and some are modern. Select a range of statements and find out as much as you can about them.

Gold helps your digital radio alarm clock to wake you in the morning

Gold helps you call someone on the telephone

Photochromatic lenses in glasses turn a darker colour because of gold

You flick a switch and the lights come on because of gold

Windows in high rise buildings use gold reflective glass (cool in summer, warm in winter)

Gold is used in TV sets

A microwave oven uses gold to cook your dinner

Gold and silver for jewellery

Gold and silver for investment

Gold and silver in coins

Arthritis is treated with gold injections

Serious burns are treated with silver

Dentists use gold and silver

Gold helps to relay millions of messages through microchips in computers

Silver is used to develop prints in photography

Silver is used to make x-ray and photographic films

Satellites use gold to send messages around the world

Radars use gold to navigate ships and planes

A film of gold protects a fireman’s face from heat

Gold is used to line an astronaut’s suit

Gold is used in space to protect equipment from solar radiation

Gold is used in the treatment of several forms of cancer

Gold leaf is used to treat ulcers

Gold was used to decorate the tombs of ancient Egyptian pharoahs

Silver is used in long-life batteries for watches, cameras, hearing aids, calculators

Silver is used to reflect light in mirrors

Silver helps to make cut flowers last longer in a vase

Silver can be seeded into cloud to make rain

Swimming pool filters use silver to clean the water

Silver is used to purify drinking water

Microwave cookware has a silver coating to brown or crisp food

= Gold was used to adorn temples =

Gold and silver are used as decoration on cups, saucers and plates

Gold and silver for cutlery

= Gold is used to decorate leather on diaries, albums and other precious books =