Technical Data
Metals are often seen as strong electrical conductors because they have a particular arrangement of electrons situated within their atoms. Gold and silver are considered two of the most conductive precious metals, with silver being the better of the two. Both metals are widely used when constructing electronic devices because gold has strong chemical stability, and silver is highly conductive. Because of the costs associated with silver and gold, these metals are often used in small quantities. These materials are often used for plated wire.
When comparing the conductance of silver and gold, it is easy to see the difference between the materials. Gold is calculated at 45.2 million inverse ohms times meters, which is good for a metal, but it is less than copper and silver. Silver, on the other hand, measures closer to 60 million inverse ohms times meters. Silver boasts the highest values for a material that is not defined as a superconductor. Copper’s value is less than silver, but copper is less expensive than silver.
Gold and silver are used in many electrical applications, including plating wire. The costs associated with the metals mean that they are often restricted to specialty components. Silver is found in high-quality electronic solders because it makes a solid electrical connection (more than common tin-lead alloys).
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