Final answer:
Aluminum wiring was commonly used in electrical applications from the late 1960s until about 1978 because of its conductivity and cost-efficiency, although its use in residential settings has declined.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aluminum wiring was commonly used from the late 1960s until about 1978. In the context of electrical applications, aluminum became a popular choice for wiring due to its conductivity and lower cost compared to copper. While not commonly used for residential wiring today because of the potential fire risk from connections, aluminum is still widely used in power grids. In these applications, the aluminum typically surrounds a steel core, which strengthens the wire, allowing it to stretch across long distances without breaking. This setup is advantageous for overhead power lines. Though less common for wiring, gold is sometimes used because of its high resistance to corrosion, which is the deterioration of a material caused by reactions with oxygen and water in the air. Corrosion resistance is critical for materials used in electrical wiring due to safety and longevity concerns.