How long would it take for gold to break down in salt water?

Question

not to a microscopic level but to say the level that would cause a golden structure to collapse on itself. like a golden axis holding up a golden wheel how long would it take for the wheel to fall off. estimations would be great

Answer 1

Gold is remarkably resistant to corrosion.  If is effected only by certain acids containing chlorine or cyanide, which do not ordinarily occur in seawater.  The golden structure should last indefinitely, unless struck by something or buried under mud or coral.

Grandpa

Answer 2

I rather suspect it would never happen, if we're talking about ocean water.  Gold isn't particularly soluble, and it isn't particularly reactive either.

Answer 3

Pretty much never. About the only thing pure gold reacts with is cyanide, and you don't find much of that in sea water.