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How to Get Gold From Gold III Hydroxide

Gold is widely used in microelectronic circuits because of its chemical stability and low electrical resistance. Devising better methods to chemically convert gold from one form to another for industrial applications enables manufacturers to create electronics at lower cost. Gold can be converted to gold (III) hydroxide (Au(OH)3) through a series of chemical steps. In 1990, the US Patent office issued patentǭ3204 for a process of using gold (III) hydroxide to form a gold film that can easily be shaped and manipulated before being reconverted back to metallic gold.

Things You'll Need

Glacial acetic acid
Laser

Instructions

- 1
  Dissolve gold (III) hydroxide in glacial acetic acid. This is so termed because its freezing point is very high, 16.7 degrees Celsius. In an unheated laboratory, it can freeze into solid crystals. Glacial acetic acid is pure acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid.
- 2
  Heat the solution to 60 degrees Celsius. This will produce a clear, amorphous film. The film is gold (III) acetate, incorporating gold with carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
- 3
  Heat the gold (III) acetate film to 175 degrees Celsius. The film will chemically degrade, leaving elemental metallic gold. You can use a laser, allowing very precise heating of a thin line of acetate film that you want to convert to gold.
- 4
  Use this process to trace out fine lines of gold, especially in the creation of microelectronic circuits. Metallic gold is one of the most electrically conductive materials in existence. This and its resistance to corrosion make it an essential part of electronics manufacture. Using this method, gold can be dissolved and manipulated in solution to create precisely crafted gold constructions that would be extremely difficult to make using elemental gold alone.

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