Gold is a malleable metal. Gold, in fact, is the most malleable of all metal elements. Metals’ malleability refers to their ability to be beaten into thin sheets under the influence of simple force, such as hammering. This is due to the arrangement of atoms in metals, i.e. their lattice structure, which allows the entire structure to be redesigned to achieve different shapes, also known as plastic deformation.
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What is malleability?
Malleability refers to the ability of metals to undergo plastic deformation under relatively low stress, such as hammering.
Instead of breaking down like many other elements, metals can be easily deformed under compression and tension.
Thus, by applying some pressure, the metals can be rolled into sheets. Gold, for example, is the most malleable metal because it can form the thinnest sheets of any metal.
Harder metals are less malleable than softer metals. Pure gold and silver, for example, are extremely malleable and soft. Tungsten, iridium, osmium, and chromium are hard metals that are not easily malleable. Metals are hard and non-moldable due to their crystal structures. There are many grain boundaries in the crystals because the atom rows do not line up. Atoms cannot easily slide past one another when under pressure.
Properties of Gold Metal
- Gold is a metal that conducts electricity and heat.
- It is ductile in nature, which means it can be drawn out into the thinnest wire.
- Gold’s refractive index is high.
- Since gold is malleable, it can be shaped into extremely thin sheets.
Why Gold is precious?
It’s shiny and beautiful, and people have loved making jewellery from it for centuries. Gold is also used as money and has been for hundreds of years. But gold is precious not only because it’s beautiful and costly; it’s also beneficial. It is used in art, industry, electronics, dentistry and in medicine.
Gold Physical properties
- Density (g/cc): 19.3.
- Melting Point (°K): 1337.58.
- Appearance: soft, malleable, yellow metal.
- Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 10.2.
- Covalent Radius (pm): 134.
- Ionic Radius: 85 (+3e) 137 (+1e)
- Atomic Radius (pm): 146.
Summary
- The most malleable metal is gold.
- A malleable material is one that can be easily formed into a thin sheet by hammering.
- Malleable metal has the ability to deform under compressive stress.
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