Are Gold Medals Actually Made Up of Pure Gold?
It's a common misconception that gold medals awarded at the Olympics and other prestigious sporting events are made entirely of pure gold. While they certainly contain a significant amount of gold, they are actually not solid gold. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strict regulations regarding the composition of gold medals.
Olympic gold medals must contain a minimum of 92.5% pure gold, also known as 22-karat gold. This means that the other 7.5% can be a mixture of other metals, such as silver and copper. The addition of these metals is necessary to make the medal more durable and resistant to damage. Pure gold is very soft and malleable, so it would be easily bent or scratched if it were used in its pure form.
The exact composition of gold medals can vary depending on the specific event and organizing committee. For example, the gold medals awarded at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro contained 98.5% pure gold. However, the gold medals awarded at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo contained only 92.5% pure gold.
It's also important to note that the term "gold medal" is somewhat misleading. While the medals contain a significant amount of gold, they are not actually solid gold. The core of the medal is typically made of a less expensive metal, such as silver or bronze, and the gold is plated onto the surface.
FAQs
- Are gold medals worth more than their weight in gold? No, the value of the gold in an Olympic gold medal is typically less than the cost of the medal itself.
- Why are gold medals not made of pure gold? Pure gold is too soft and malleable to be used in its pure form.
- What is the minimum purity of gold required for an Olympic gold medal? 92.5%
- What is the most common metal used in Olympic gold medals? Silver
- What is the core of an Olympic gold medal typically made of? Silver or bronze
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