Gold
Gold is a metallic element with a characteristic color that has been valued for centuries due to it rarity.
Properties
- Symbol: Au
- Atomic number: 79
- Relative atomic mass (Ar): 196.966569 (4)
- Standard state: solid at 298 K
- Colour: gold
- Classification: Metallic
Gold is the most malleable and ductile metal; 1 ounce (28 g) of gold can be beaten out to 300 square feet. It is a soft metal and is usually alloyed to give it more strength. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and is unaffected by air and most reagents. It has some uses in electronics, but it's primarily used for jewelry and other decoration.
Gold in Star Trek
- "Proof of their barbarism -- they adorn themselves with gold, a despicable use of rare metal."
- --Letek, TNG "The Last Outpost"
The value of gold is unclear in Star Trek. It has sometimes been described as "worthless",[1] yet it has also been offered as payment for valuable items[2] or in important negotiations.[3]
In any case, it is far less valuable than "gold-pressed latinum", which is presumably much more rare. With futuristic technology, gold is presumably much easier to obtain, reducing its value.
Some debaters argue that the value of gold is low because it can be replicated, but there is no real evidence that replicators can perform elemental transmutation.