Teaching Students About Refining Gold
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Every day, we benefit from using products made of gold, like jewellery, coins, dental fillings, and electronics. But where does gold come from, and how is it refined? Gold refining is a complex process that involves several steps, including mining, crushing, grinding, leaching, rinsing, smelting, and pouring. However, teaching students about refining gold can help them appreciate the value and rarity of this precious metal, as well as the environmental and social implications of its extraction.
One common method of gold refining is cyanidation, which involves mixing crushed ore with a solution of sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide. This converts the gold into a soluble form that can be collected and filtered. However, cyanide is highly toxic and can pollute waterways and harm wildlife and humans. Therefore, alternative methods that use non-toxic reagents, such as thiosulfate or chloride, are being researched and developed.
Once the gold has been extracted from the ore, it still needs to be purified and shaped into usable forms. This is where the smelting and pouring steps come in. Smelting involves heating the gold with fluxes, such as borax or soda ash, to remove impurities and create a molten alloy. Pouring involves casting the molten gold into molds, such as bars, coins, or jewellery, or electroplating it onto surfaces, such as circuit boards or satellites.
Teaching students about gold refining can have several educational and practical benefits. Firstly, it can foster an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, as well as history, geography, and economics. Secondly, it can raise awareness about the environmental and social impacts of mining and refining gold, and encourage students to think critically about sustainability, ethics, and justice. Thirdly, it can inspire students to become responsible consumers and responsible citizens, by valuing precious resources and protecting human rights.
In conclusion, gold refining is a fascinating and intricate process that involves many disciplines and issues. Teaching students about gold refining can be an engaging and enlightening experience, as they learn about the properties, sources, methods, and implications of this precious metal. Whether in a science class, a history class, or a social studies class, teaching students about gold refining can help them understand and appreciate the complex and interconnected world we live in.