Multiple choice

Why pure gold is always alloyed with other metals?

  1. To increase its softness

  2. To decrease its reactivity

  3. To increase its shine

  4. To increase its hardness

  5. To make it malleable
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Gold readily creates alloys with many other metals. The extreme malleability, ductility and softness of pure gold make it practically useless for jewellery applications. The addition of alloying elements (other metals) to gold is used to increase the toughness and hardness of the metal. 

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