Dude, gold is a good conductor. The reason it is a good conductor is that
there is a single electron in the outer shell which is relatively free to
move
about under the influence of an electric field (it is the same group as
copper
and silver). Check your periodic table. Helium, Neon, etc (Noble gases)
have a full outer shell.
As you know gold is pretty inert chemically, however. The reasons for this
are beyond my laymen's understanding of chemistry.
73 de Mike, W4EF...........................
> ? My guess is that gold plating is used to reduce primary electron
> emission from the grid because the gold atom's outer electron shell is
> full. Thus, it does not easily give up or take on an electron. Gold
> meltballs seem to behave like they have a negative charge because they
> are invariably attracted to a positive anode.
>
> cheers, Steve
>
> - R. L. Measures, a.k.a. Rich..., 805.386.3734,AG6K,
> www.vcnet.com/measures.
> end
>
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
|