Gold has always been one of the most valuable elements found in nature. The gold rush and astonishment of this metal are connected to humanity since time immemorial till this day. Gold is a symbol of wealth, stability and luxury. Although you could think that only gold colour is linked with gold – modern trends are heading in a different direction.
What you might not know about gold
We can’t really tell when did the history of gold and humanity start to connect, but fascinating is left alone the creation of this element. Creation of gold starts in monstrous collisions and explosions of cosmic bodies, such as neutron stars and supernovas. Only those events could make enough energy for the synthesis of atoms of heavy elements, such as gold. Other fascinating facts are known due to archaeologist researchers. People have known and used gold for tens of thousand years. Neolithic civilization and early ancient civilizations brought significantly bigger attention.
Egyptian culture was connected with gold (you can also say that this culture was possessed with gold) from its own beginning 5 thousand years ago. Other nations of the middle east started to fancy gold, such as Asia and later even Europe. Gold became the general value, the synonym of property, and later on manufacturing material of high-value payment.
We are not quite sure why is humanity so fascinated by gold. At the moment, gold is used in industry, electronics or in the medical field, but in history, gold wasn’t that practical or useful. Gold was always only decoration. Its physical and chemical features are indeed outstanding.
Gold is totally durable against the majority of external effects and also against almost every acid and salts. On the other hand, gold is perfectly ductile and easy to process. Maybe this is the answer to our previous question. The connection of absolute persistence with malleability is worth admiring.
How is white gold made?
Previously mentioned Egyptians knew and used golded alloys – especially electrum. This alloy of gold and silver is indeed existing naturally. One of the most familiar present and artificially made alloys of gold is white gold.
This material is quite new. At the beginning of the last century, when humanity was looking for a cheaper alternative to platinum, white gold was created. So-called white gold soon took up and became very popular and stylish. The reason is an elegant and modest appearance.
What does white gold consist of? Of course, “normal” gold (Au) and white metals. Because of that, an appearance that’s really close to silver appears. The various scale of shades depends on metals that are used and the amount of gold – fineness. While earlier, nickel was used as an ingredient, palladium is more common nowadays. More metals are now added, such as silver, copper on zinc.
White gold isn’t a strictly defined term. This term just defines the alloy of gold and another metal that brings the silvery-white colour. On that also depends the price and quality of this gorgeous material and the product made out of it.
