Does Gold Conduct Electricity? 9 Facts (Why, How & Uses)

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Gold is soft, ductile, and malleable in its pure form. Let us talk about the electrical conductivity of the Earth’s precious elements.

Gold can conduct electricity and is also a good conductor of heat, but it is not widely used in electronic appliances as it is costly. The atomic number of gold is 79 with atomic configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1, having a single electron in the valence orbit that makes it conduct electricity.

We shall discuss in this article the electric conductivity properties of gold, its merits, and demerits, how to calculate the conductivity of gold, its dependency on resistance and temperature, and its uses as an excellent electric conductor.

Why does gold conduct electricity?

Most metals can conduct electricity due to the presence of electrons that produces an electric field. Let us discuss why gold can conduct electricity.

The gold can conduct electricity due to the free valence electrons that dislocate from the shell and move around the atom to conduct electricity. These electrons get excited/ mobile when supplied with energy sufficient to jump out of the valence shell. Also, gold metal does not get rust/ tarnish.

How to calculate electric conductivity of gold?

The electrical conductivity of gold depends upon the number density of the electrons/charges. Let us enumerate how we can calculate the electrical conductivity of gold.

The electrical conductivity of gold is calculated by measuring the inverse of its resistivity (22.14 nΏ.m), which comes out to be 4.5 × 107 S/m. It is also calculated as the current density and electric field strength ratio as J / E. The conductivity of gold is increased by lowering its temperature.

The electric conductivity of gold is found by using the formula: σ = 1 / ρ = l / (RA), where σ is conductivity, ρ is resistivity, l is the length, R is resistance, and A is the area. The resistivity of gold is proportional to the product of its resistance and area and is inversely related to the length.

Properties of Gold

There are various properties of gold that impart it a good conductor of electricity. Let us emphasize those properties of gold.

  • The melting point of gold is 10650 C, and the boiling point is 28560 C.
  • Gold is dense, having the fcc structure.
  • Gold is a chemically least reactive element and amalgamates with Au and Hg.
  • Gold does not absorb heat and light and hence is a lustrous and a good conductor of heat.

Uses of Gold as an Electric Conductor

Gold is used in various electronic devices and instruments as a good conductor of electricity. Let us elucidate some of the uses of gold as an electric conductor.

  • Gold is used as connectors, wires, and strips.
  • Gold electroplating is used in copper industries to improve the solder ability of Cu.
  • Gold is used as a switch and relay contact.
  • Gold is used as interconnects of chips, ICs, etc.
  • Gold is used in spacecraft to conduct electricity and stabilize heat.

Is gold a good conductor of electricity?

The conductivity of metal depends upon the total electric flux passing through the matter. Let us discuss whether gold is a good conductor of electricity or not.

Gold is a good conductor of electricity, but its conductivity is slightly lower than copper and silver. The gold can conduct due to its valence electron that moves when the voltage is supplied. It does not tarnish quickly and lasts long, unlike other metals.

Gold is so ductile and malleable that it can be elongated and molded into a thin, long wire and sheet. The dislocation of free electrons produces positively charged holes, which also help in the conduction of electricity.

What is the resistance of a gold wire?

The resistance is a property of gold to combat the flow of charges/ electric flux through it. Let us see to what percent gold can resist the current through it.

The resistance of a gold wire is equal to 2.44 × 10-8 Ώ. Resistivity is related to the ratio of length and cross-sectional area and is given by the formula R = ρl/A, where R is the resistance of the wire, ρ is the resistivity of gold, l is a length of the gold wire, and A is the cross-sectional area of the wire.

The resistance of the gold wire increases with its length and is inversely related to the cross-sectional area. That implies if a wire is thick, the resistance of the wire is less.

Why is gold a poor electric conductor than copper?

Gold is a good conductor of electricity, but copper is only widely used in electronic devices and industries. Let us understand why gold is not a better conductor than copper.

Gold is a poor conductor than copper because the resistivity of gold is 40% higher than copper, being a dense noble metal. Moreover, gold is costly and rarely found on Earth, so it is not suitable for wide use; copper is the least expensive and has better conductivity than gold.

Why is gold a good conductor of heat?

The matter that allows heat to flow from one end to the other is a good conductor of heat. Let us discuss why gold is a good conductor of heat.

Gold is a good conductor of heat because it has a high density of atoms that vibrates upon grasping the heat energy supplied, which further collides and transfers its energy to the surrounding atoms, allowing the easy flow of heat energy and conduction across the gold matter.

Conclusion

Gold is a precious metal that can conduct electricity and does not tarnish quickly; hence it is used in many electronic devices and equipment but is not extensively used because it is costly and scarcely found. Its conductivity is poor compared to silver and copper, but the density of gold makes it a good conductor of heat.

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