Our earth is full of minerals, but none are more useful than gold. Its usefulness is unlimited since it contains different special properties. It is a symbol of power, purity, beauty, wealth, commerce and achievement for people all over the world. Among the diversified properties of gold, few are as follows.

Gold is a good conductor of electricity and does not tarnish. Gold is an easy metal to work with and can be drawn into wire. By hammering it, thin sheets can be formed. Gold alloys along with other metals can be melted down and transformed into any shape. Gold looks pleasing to the eye as it has a wonderful rich color and wonderful shine. Gold is an important part of human life; however, its importance to the industry is even more important.

Gold is used in today’s major major industries including; electronics, dentistry, glass manufacturing, medicine, IT, aerospace, mobile phones, etc. It is useful in industry for its resistance to corrosion, its ductility and malleability. Thermal conductivity and infrared reflectivity are other useful properties of gold, which have made it a vital metal for use in shielding spacecraft and satellites to protect them from solar radiation.

The history of the use of gold in dentistry is very old. It is said that at the beginning of 700 a. C., Etruscan dentists used gold wires to hold replacement teeth in patients’ mouths. It is also said that gold was used to fill cavities; however, there is no documented or archaeological evidence for it. Iron was used for dental fillings, but gold replaced it due to its excellent performance, aesthetic appeal, and because it is inert and non-allergic. Dentists are more comfortable working with gold alloys and using them for fillings and other purposes.

The use of gold in electronics is as important as in any other industry. Solid state electronic devices are very easily interrupted by deterioration or tarnishing at their contact points, but gold is very efficient as it is resistant to corrosion. It can be said that there is no sophisticated electronic device in which gold has not been used. It is used to make connectors, patch cords, switches, power strips, etc. Some of the devices where gold is used are; televisions, cell phones, calculators, computers, etc.

Gold is an efficient conductor, used in desktop or laptop computers for the precise transmission of digital information via data buses on the motherboard. These data buses are made of gold. The male and female connectors and the edge connectors are also made of gold.

Gold is also used in the glass industry to produce pigments. Special glasses for display cases and climate-controlled buildings were also produced using gold in them. It is also used in the helmet visor of an astronaut suit as it reflects solar radiation.

Gold is biologically inactive, which is why it is used in medical research tools. It is used for the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lagophthalmos, etc. The uses of gold are limitless, and it is in the last 2 to 3 decades that gold has been used for the development of different materials, as it is a more sophisticated and reliable metal than any other.