Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is gold useful for electronic contacts and circuits?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A diagram showing the periodic table entry for gold, with the symbol Au, atomic number 79, atomic weight 196.96657, electron configuration, and labels for its properties as a solid transition metal with a face-centered cubic crystal structure. — gold The precious metal gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au. Its square on the periodic table details some of its properties, including its atomic weight, atomic number, and crystal structure.

Gold is highly valued in the electronics industry for use in contacts, terminals, printed circuits, and semiconductor systems primarily due to two key properties:

High Electrical Conductivity: Gold is an excellent conductor of electricity, possessing 71 percent of the conductivity of copper.1
Chemical Inertness: As one of the most noble, or least chemically reactive, transition elements, gold does not tarnish or corrode when exposed to oxygen or sulfur.12

Because of these characteristics, gold is frequently applied as a thin plating on electronic components. This ensures reliable electrical connections that remain free from the insulating oxide layers that can form on more reactive metals, thereby maintaining consistent performance in sensitive circuits and devices.1