Concept in Definition ABC

The gold, whose symbol is Au and whose word comes from the term aurum which means bright, it is a metal precious highly valued throughout the world and from the most ancient times. In addition to being an attractive, soft, malleable and shiny metal, its high value is due to its beauty and its low presence in nature.

Types of gold according to its purity

Gold is a symbol of wealth and greatness and throughout history it has been used in the world of jewelry, in the sculpture, on the manufacturing of coins or as a metal related to the market stock exchange. However, not all gold is the same. In fact, there is 24 karat gold, which is the purest, the 14 karat is the lowest value and an intermediate one, the 18 karat or white gold.

White gold

In its pure state, gold has a melting point of 1063 degrees Celsius and a specific gravity of 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter. White gold is a combination of one or more off-white metals, such as palladium, silver, or rhodium. In this way, when these metals are fused with gold there is a color change that goes from yellow to white.

White gold is commonly used in goldsmithing and jewelery and is used to increase the degree of luminosity of precious pieces in fine jewelery. On the other hand, with white gold you get a range of colors and this aspect makes white gold a cheaper alternative to the use of platinum, a clearly more expensive metal.

A piece of 18 karat white gold is made with 75% gold and the rest with the other metals already mentioned. Due to this, some experts consider that white gold is not strictly gold, as it is nothing more than an alloy.

Lesser known uses and the "other" white gold

Due to its high conductivity and low oxidation white gold is usable beyond jewelry and ornamentation. Remember that it is used in all kinds of gadgets, such as processors, graphics cards or keyboards. Its use in the world of computing and electronics is because the contacts on integrated circuits are more accurate when made from white gold.

Finally, it is worth remembering that the term white gold does not always refer to the metal but rather is a figurative way of referring to cotton, since this material has a high value strategic. Do not forget that cotton is present in most garments and that the industry textile is a very relevant sector of the economy world.

Photos: iStock - thanawong / ozgurcankaya