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Gold Defies Pressure, Forms New Compound Under Extreme Conditions
Confirmed
In Short: Under extreme pressure, gold has formed a new compound with hydrogen, challenging its long-held reputation for chemical inertness.
Under extreme pressure, gold has formed a new compound with hydrogen, challenging its long-held reputation for chemical inertness. Researchers led by Mungo Frost at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California have discovered that gold can form a solid compound with hydrogen when subjected to high pressure, revealing a previously unknown side of the precious metal.
Gold alone stays bright, and physicists have long known that the explanation lies not in ordinary chemistry but in Einstein’s relativity. However, recent experiments have shown that gold can indeed react with hydrogen under extreme conditions, forming a new compound. This discovery suggests that pressure could be a third axis of the periodic table, alongside the familiar rows and columns.
Gold’s nucleus packs 79 protons, and that enormous positive charge whips the innermost electrons around at more than half the speed of light. This unique property of gold has long made it chemically inert, but the new compound formed under extreme pressure challenges this notion. The researchers used X-ray diffraction to reveal a new hexagonal structure, a hydride whose hydrogen content climbed as the pressure rose.
The accidental discovery shows that gold’s famous indifference is not absolute. In 1929, researchers first detected fleeting gold hydride molecules in the gas phase, and spectroscopists later mapped the two-atom molecule in fine detail. This latest finding, however, marks the first time a solid compound of gold and hydrogen has been observed, opening up new possibilities in materials science and chemistry.
What's confirmed
- Under extreme pressure, gold has formed a new compound with hydrogen, challenging its long-held reputation for chemical inertness. Researchers led by Mungo Frost at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California have discovered that gold can form a solid compound with hydrogen when subjected to high pressure, revealing a previously unknown side of the precious metal.
- Gold alone stays bright, and physicists have long known that the explanation lies not in ordinary chemistry but in Einstein’s relativity. However, recent experiments have shown that gold can indeed react with hydrogen under extreme conditions, forming a new compound. This discovery suggests that pressure could be a third axis of the periodic table, alongside the familiar rows and columns.
- Gold’s nucleus packs 79 protons, and that enormous positive charge whips the innermost electrons around at more than half the speed of light. This unique property of gold has long made it chemically inert, but the new compound formed under extreme pressure challenges this notion. The researchers used X-ray diffraction to reveal a new hexagonal structure, a hydride whose hydrogen content climbed as the pressure rose.
- The accidental discovery shows that gold’s famous indifference is not absolute. In 1929, researchers first detected fleeting gold hydride molecules in the gas phase, and spectroscopists later mapped the two-atom molecule in fine detail. This latest finding, however, marks the first time a solid compound of gold and hydrogen has been observed, opening up new possibilities in materials science and chemistry.
What's still developing
- Low pressure remains to the north-west of Scotland pushing further weather fronts across the UK on Monday - the cold front marked in blue triangles will introduce fresher feeling air Pressure is falling on Monday, the wind direction is changing and a weather front is moving down from the north-west, signalling a change to cooler and fresher weather.
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- After a heat spike on Sunday, low pressure systems will continue to bring wet and windy conditions, especially to the north of the UK at the beginning of the week, before things settle down on Wednesday and Thursday.
- Monday will be cooler with fresher air but temperatures for many will still be above average for the time of year A deep area of low pressure will still be situated to the north-west of Scotland on Tuesday.
- He said the pressure and criticism from Trump had nothing to do with his decision.
- The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories across California's Central Valley and coastal areas, including the Bay Area and Los Angeles, with more severe extreme heat warnings in parts of Southern California.
- Cooling demand is expected to soar over the next several days, putting pressure on the power grid, particularly in the evening as solar generation declines.
- It has called on the Government to ease pressure by relieving rising energy and regulatory costs on manufacturers, warning “resilience is wearing thin”.