Gold (Au)

Student Objectives: Students will be able to identify several physical properties of gold and be aware of its social and monetary value.

Tips for the Teachers: Describe the size of a one-ounce gold coin to the class and discuss its present market value in dollars. One troy ounce gold coin is about the size of a half–dollar, 1/8” thick or the size of three quarters stacked on top of each other.

Suggested Activities:

1. Have the students write a story about what they would do if they found a large nugget of gold.

2. Make a collage of pictures cut from magazines showing items made of or containing gold.

3. Divide the class into teams. Each team chooses a place to hide a treasure and draws a map, using drawings and written directions such as, “Walk from the door toward the blackboard ten steps and turn left.” After checking the maps, have the teams trade maps and try to locate the “treasure.” Prizes could be awarded for clearly drawn maps and finding the treasure.

4. Discuss gold in literature-King Midas, Treasure Island, Rumplestiltskin, ect. Listen to a taped story.

Measurements/Evaluation:

1. What is the oldest and largest use for gold?
2. Does gold corrode?
3. Why was gold treasured in ancient times?
4. Gold is the most ductile of the metallic minerals. What is “ductile?”
5. What is gold used for between countries today?
6. When you and copper to gold, what happens to its color? What if you add silver instead?

For more information on gold please contact:

The Gold Institute

1112 16^th Street, NW, Suite 240

Washington, D.C. 200036

(202) 835-0185

Or visit their website at www.goldinstitute.com

Gold

Color: Yellow

Weight: 19 times as heavy as water; one of the heaviest metals

Found: In flakes or nuggets; mainly mixed with other minerals in rock called ore

Gold is an element. It is the most easily shaped (malleable) mineral and is easily formed into a thin wire (ductile). It is so ductile that one-ounce can be formed into a wire five miles long.

Gold does not corrode, and it conducts electricity very well. Gold can contain small amounts of other minerals that change its color. Copper will make it darker yellow, while gold with silver can almost make it white. Pure gold is called 24 karat gold. Because it is a soft mineral it is usually mixed with other metals such as copper, nickel and silver. Gold is present in very small amounts all over the earth and in seawater, but in most places there is not enough to mine.

People have thought gold was very special since ancient times. Even before there was written language, gold was treasured for its beauty and usefulness. One reason that gold is valuable is because there is not much of it on the earth. When many people like something and there is not enough for everyone, that thing may be used to trade for other items that people want. Gold was something that could be traded easily, so people began to use it to represent a certain value. For instance, a small lump of gold might be worth two chickens or a sack of grain. That was the beginning of money as we know it, and gold is still used today as money between countries.

The oldest and largest use for gold is in the jewelry and decorations. It is also used in small amounts for dental work and to conduct electricity.

Directions: Each coin can buy the item or items listed beside it. Answer the questions below. Draw and color your answer.

1. How much would two jackets cost?
2. How much would six chickens cost?
3. How much would three chickens, one jacket and two shovels cost?
4. Three coins can buy how many sacks of grain?