Gold and Silver in Electronics: Conductivity and Applications

Gold, with its stable nature due to eight electrons in the last layer, is a key element in electronics. It exhibits excellent ductility, making it ideal for creating thin wires used in microchips to prevent oxidation.

Gold is widely utilized in the electronics industry for its properties. It is crucial in making ultra-thin circuits in microchips and preventing contact oxidation. Electrical contacts prone to oxidation are often gold-plated to ensure longevity.

Silver, the best natural electrical conductor, is commonly used for electrical conductivity. However, at high frequencies, a phenomenon known as the “skin effect” occurs. This effect causes the current to flow predominantly on the surface of the conductor, leading to increased resistance at higher frequencies.

In scenarios requiring high-frequency conduction, silver coatings are applied to common conductors to enhance cable conductivity and reduce impedance, ensuring efficient signal transmission.