Why do people treasure gold?

​Why do People Treasure Gold Part 2

GOLD IS NONTOXIC

Although gold is a heavy, dense metal, it is generally considered
nontoxic. Gold metal flakes may be eaten in foods or drinks, alt-
hough it is a common allergen for some.

To determine if you’re allergic to gold, take a piece of gold and
rub it on the palm of your hand. If you’re allergic to gold, a dark
mark will appear where it came in contact with your skin. For
those that are allergic, platinum is a great alternative that is less
likely to cause irritation.

Multiple Choice

What is gold generally considered?

• to be toxic

• to be non-toxic

• to be poisonous

• to be the most expensive metal

Multiple Choice

What can you do with gold metal flakes?

• eat and drink them

• write with them

• sew with them

• use them in shampoo

Multiple Choice

What will happen to the palm of your hand if you rub it with gold if you are allergic to gold?

• your palm will go black

• a dark mark will appear

• your palm will be blistered

• your palm will be sore

Multiple Choice

What metal is less likely to cause an irritation?

• iron

• gold

• silver

• platinum

GOLD IS PLIABLE

Along with being malleable, gold is also very pliable. The
main difference between the two has to do with the de-
gree the shape can be bent. Pliable materials can be bent
or flexed. And materials that are malleable can be beaten
or hammered into a bowl or basin shape. In fact, gold is so
pliable that it can be made into sewing thread—although
that would be some pretty expensive sewing thread.

Multiple Choice

What can pliable materials do?

• they can stretch

• they can bounce

• they can be bent or flexed

• they can be moulded

Multiple Choice

What can malleable materials do?

• they can be beaten or hammered into shape

• they can be bent or flexed

• they can be stretched

• they can be made into thread

GOLD IS DENSE

Gold is one of the densest of all metals. Gold weighs 19.3
times as much as other metals. The density of gold is a key
factor that allows miners to find it in rivers.Its weight is
one of the many reasons gold has become so valuable.
This is aside from the fact that, in its pure form, gold can
be crafted into almost any shape. A gold bar can be
turned into earrings, bracelets, rings, and family heirlooms
and is used as a reliable conductor in many modern
electrical components.

Multiple Choice

How many times more does gold weigh in comparison to other metals?

• 5.3 times

• 12.9 times

• 19.3 times

• 24.7 times

Multiple Choice

What is a key factor that allows miners to find gold in rivers

• its colour

• its density

• its shine

• its size

GOLD IS RARER THAN DIAMONDS

In its elemental form, gold is significantly rarer than di-
amonds. A one-troy-ounce Gold nugget, 31.1 grams, is
rarer to find than a five-carat mined diamond. After all,
carbon is one of the most abundant elements on
Earth—contrary to what you might have been told—
and a diamond is composed almost entirely of carbon.
The average concentration of gold in Earth’s crust is
‘very, very low,’ at 4 parts per billion.

Multiple Choice

Diamonds are rarer than gold

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What are diamonds almost entirely composed of?

• iron

• copper

• carbon

• silver

Multiple Choice

What is the average concentration of gold in the Earth's crust?

• 4 parts per billion

• 4 parts per million

• 40 parts per billion

• 10 parts per million

GOLD IS USED IN ELECTRONICS

Gold has many uses aside from its monetary and symbolic
value. Among other applications, it is used in electronics
and electrical wiring. This is because it does not corrode
or tarnish, unlike other highly conductive metals like
copper and silver. Electronics aren’t made entirely of gold.
Instead, the precious metal is used for specific
components such as connectors and wires.

Multiple Choice

Why is gold used in electronics?

• because it is dense

• because it does not corrode or tarnish

• because it is pretty

• because it does not conduct

Multiple Choice

What is gold used for in electronics?

• connectors and wires

• electonics are made entirely of gold

• casing and wires

• connectors and casing

GOLD IS FOUND ALL OVER THE WORLD

Gold has been discovered on every continent on
Earth. ‘Alluvial’ gold is found as small yellow grains
and flakes, or even small nuggets, on the beds of fast-
flowing rivers and streams.

You’re more likely to find gold deposits on the inside
of bends in a river, where the water flows less quickly.
As the water slows down, the heavy gold particles fall
through the gravel on the riverbed and work their way
down through the soil underneath. Eventually, it set-
tles on the riverbed’s clay bottom.

Multiple Choice

Where has gold been discovered?

• only in the Northern Hemisphere

• only in the Southern Hemisphere

• on every continent

• in volcanoes

Multiple Choice

Where are you more likely to find gold deposits?

• on the inside of bends in a river

• in the soil beside the river

• on the forest floor

• on the beach

THE SYMBOL FOR GOLD IS AU

The elemental symbol for gold is Au. This comes from
the old Latin name for gold, aurum, which means
“shining dawn” or “glow of sunrise.” The word gold
comes from the Germanic languages, meaning
“yellow.”

Multiple Choice

What is the symbol for gold?

• Gu

• Ag

• Au

• Aa

Multiple Choice

What is the old Latin name for gold?

• aurum

• aura

• ourum

• orua

Multiple Select

What does the old Latin name for gold mean? (choose all correct answers)

• shining dawn

• shining sunrise

• glow of dawn

• glow of sunrise

Multiple Choice

Where does the word gold come from?

• Latin

• English languages

• Germanic languages

• French languages

Multiple Choice

What does the word gold mean?

• yellow

• shiny

• rare

• pretty

OCEANS CONTAIN GOLD

Ocean waters contain gold. There are about 20 million
tons of precious metal, worth around $771 trillion, in
the oceans. There is said to be about one gram of gold
for every 100 million metric tons of ocean water in the
Atlantic and North Pacific. There is also gold on the
seafloor. The ocean, however, is deep, meaning that
gold deposits are a mile or two underwater and hard
to find.

Multiple Choice

About how many tons of gold in the oceans?

• 30 million tons

• 20 million tons

• 10 million tons

• 5 million tons

Multiple Choice

Why is it hard to find gold deposits on the seafloor?

• because there is so much ocean

• because it is hard to see

• because it is so far underwater

• because the sand looks like gold

GOLD IS VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE

Gold is a noble metal and doesn’t react easily, making
it virtually indestructible. Gold doesn’t rust, oxidize, or
even react to most acids. This is why all of the gold

extracted from the earth is melted, re-melted, and used
over and over again. This is why noble metal is also
considered sustainable jewellery.

It is also one of the most conductive metals of the

periodic table, making an excellent conductor for
both electricity and heat.

Multiple Select

What doesn't gold do? (Choose all the correct answers)

• rust

• oxidize

• melt

• react to most acids

Multiple Choice

What can gold conduct?

• light and heat

• electricity and light

• electricity and heat

• light and energy