Major Characteristics
- Gold (Chemical Symbol-Au) is primarily a monetary asset and partly a commodity.
- Gold is the world’s oldest international currency.
- Gold is an important element of global monetary reserves.
- With regards to investment value, more than two-thirds of gold’s total accumulated holdings is with central banks’ reserves, private players, and held in the form of high-karat jewellery.
- Less than one-third of gold’s total accumulated holdings are used as “commodity” for jewellery in the western markets and industry.
- Melting point: 1064.18 degrees Celsius.
- Boiling point: 2836 degrees Celsius.
- Density: 19.282 g/cm3.
- Yellow, bright, relatively soft, solid metal at room temperature.
- Highly malleable and ductile.
- Good conductor of heat and electricity.
- Resists corrosion and tarnishing (considered a noble metal)
