9781422279458

has “struck gold.” Something very useful can be said to be “worth its weight in gold.” But gold is more than just shiny loot. It can be stretched and ham- mered into extremely thin sheets or wires. Gold conducts electricity and doesn’t corrode (which means to break apart slowly), so engi- neers often use it to form components of computer chips and other electronics. That cell phone sitting on the table contains about $1 to $2 worth of gold. Gold also has medical applications. Dentists often use gold to fill in cavities. Gold has also helped treat arthritis and can- cer. Gold is even useful in outer space, where it helps shield spacecraft and coats the mirrors on a giant space telescope. Despite the many technical uses for gold, the metal remains valu- able mainly for its beauty and rarity. In almost any time and place on Earth, gold is an acceptable form of payment.

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The Chemistry of Everyday Elements