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Gold wire is often used to make gold jewelry such as necklaces or bracelets where its high value is part of the reason for using it, as well as the fact that it does not tarnish when exposed to the air. Gold is not often used for electrical wiring because of its high cost as a metal but it is often used to make the edge connectors on printed circuit boards because it does not wear away or tarnish as easily as silver or copper. For the same reason gold is sometimes used to make the contacts in electrical switches. Copper is the metal most used for wiring because it conducts electricity well without overheating. Copper is much cheaper to buy than silver or gold which can both conduct electricity even better than copper. However copper easily corrodes or tarnishes if it is exposed to the atmosphere because it is attacked by acids in the air: copper is sometimes used to cover a roof and over a long time such as 20 years it can often turn bright green! So copper wire that has to be used outside is usually protected by a plastic coating to keep the air away from it. If several wires are placed next to one another to make an electric cable then each wire is given a different colored plastic coating to help identify which wire is which and to insulate the wires safely from one another.

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17y ago

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Related Questions

Why is gold not used as an electrical wiring?

Too expensive, it would be stolen (as it is there are people stealing copper electrical wiring, and copper is much cheaper than gold).


Why is the electrical wiring not made of gold?

Some electrical wiring are made of gold. Its a very thin plating of 24k gold but its better than copper. However the reason gold is best because it is most conductive. Usually gold wire or connecters are only used in data connections for quality. The only two reasons its not common is because gold is to expensive and rare.


Is gold a good conductor or a good insulator?

Gold is an excellent conductor of electricity due to its high conductivity. It is commonly used in electronic components and wiring.


Is gold stronger than copper?

Gold is softer than copper. Copper is stronger and has a higher tensile strength compared to gold. This is why copper is often used for electrical wiring and plumbing where strength is important.


What are two uses of gold?

To wear it and I think it's used I'n wiring because it's a really good conductor


Can other metals be used for wire?

Yes. The big high-tension wires are made of steel. You could make gold wires--very expensive military electronics have gold wiring in some places. Silver is a good wire to use. Copper and aluminum are used for most wiring because they work well and are inexpensive.


Why aren't gold and silver used in home wiring?

Price. You don't gain that much with a better conductor, even at a thousand times the price. Gold would cost more, yet.


Is gold a poor conductor of electricity?

gold a very good conductor of electricity. The only element that surpasses gold is silver, but is used less often due it's oxidation. Gold is used in very high-end electronics such as spacecraft and satellites. Gold was also used in the circuits for the Manhattan Project.CommentCopper is also a better conductor than gold.


Why do you not use gold wire in domestic wiring?

Because it is simply too expensive and there is not enough gold.


What mineral is used for electrical wiring?

Wires are generally not comprised of minerals, but metals. Examples are copper, aluminum, and gold. There are some insulation systems that use "rock wool" (which is mineral based), for high temperature or high radiation exposure.


When is gold wiring needed?

Gold wiring is needed for these purposes: - Very low resistance - Corrosion-proof wiring - Low resistance contacts points - Failure-resistant microcircuitry - Areas exposed to chemicals and chemical vapors Gold plated wiring is needed for these purposes: - Corrosion-resistant copper circuit boards. - Circuit board edge connectors - Trouble-free contact pins and sockets - Corrosion-resistant wiring - Outdoor devices


What metal is most commonly used for wiring?

Copper is used for wiring!