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No gold jewellery, including 14-carat gold, which has low purity, rusts. Gold jewellery ages whether worn or not, but it does not rust. If you wear jewellery for a long time, a yellow-green layer can form on it, but it does not rust
Gold atoms are very stable, which is why the chemical composition of pure gold does not change even in air, water, and extreme temperatures. (AI Generated Image)
It’s jewellery, it’s legacy, it’s emotion, it’s investment. The value of gold for an Indian household cannot be overstated. The price of gold remains stable or generally only increases. In Indian households, people collect and keep gold for generations. However, some fear that storing gold at home for a long time without using it may cause it to rust, corrode, or deteriorate.
What Ts Rust?
Rust is basically iron oxide. According to metallurgy, only iron and iron alloys rust. Moisture and oxygen cause a chemical reaction in iron, forming a dark red layer known as rust. Scientifically, rust is the process by which the surface of a metal oxidises and turns into an oxide. For example, iron combines with oxygen to form ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃). If appropriate measures are not taken, the metal gradually loses its natural form and deteriorates.
How Is Iron Protected From Rust?
Iron alloys are used in most nuts, bolts, fans, bicycle chains, and automobile parts, and to protect them from rust, painting, oiling, greasing, and other methods are used.
Do Gold, Silver, Copper And Brass Rust?
Gold is called a noble element. Gold can be melted at low temperatures to make jewellery. Gold does not react with common acids and dissolves only in an acid called aqua regia (a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid). Silver is also a noble element but reacts slightly with sulphur in the air. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper and resembles the metal used to make expensive jewellery. Most sculptors use brass to make statues due to its strength, enhanced by a high percentage of zinc. When copper is the main metal, it looks dark.
Brass does not rust but gradually corrodes. Due to weather influences, the zinc in brass undergoes chemical changes, leaving only copper and altering its colour. Brass reacts chemically with all types of acids, but copper does not rust. After years of use, green stains can appear on copper. Copper does not react with strong acids.
The main question is whether gold rusts. In India, gold of 14, 18, 20, 22, 23, and 24 carats is available. Of these, 22, 18, and 14-carat gold is used in jewellery making. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) officials say that gold never rusts.
What Happens If You Leave It Unused?
No gold jewellery, including 14-carat gold, which has low purity, rusts. Gold jewellery ages whether worn or not, but it does not rust. If you wear jewellery for a long time, a yellow-green layer can form on it, but it does not rust. Even ancient gold jewellery or coins, buried in soil for centuries, do not have rust on them, proving the stability of gold.
What Causes The Layer To Form On Gold?
The impurities in gold are metals such as copper, used to increase strength rather than pure gold. This can cause a layer to form on jewellery. Gold atoms are very stable, which is why the chemical composition of pure gold does not change even in air, water, and extreme temperatures. This stability is why gold is used in electronic devices, particularly circuit boards.
Chemical Properties Of Gold
Gold is a noble metal, meaning it undergoes very few chemical reactions. Gold has very low oxidation resistance and does not rust in normal environments, even when exposed to oxygen or moisture. It does not corrode in normal environments such as air, water, or acids (except certain special acids).
What Are The Exceptions That Affect Gold?
Although gold does not normally rust, it can be affected by certain special chemical conditions:
Aqua Regia: This is a mixture of nitric acid (HNO₃) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) that can dissolve gold. However, this is not corrosion, but rather chemical dissolution.
Halogens: Very strong chemicals such as chlorine or fluorine can react with gold, but these are not found in normal environments.
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