{"id":328,"date":"2020-04-09T10:50:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T10:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/?page_id=328"},"modified":"2023-08-15T11:39:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T11:39:09","slug":"gold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/gold\/","title":{"rendered":"Gold (Au)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gold is a chemical element with an atomic number of 79 in the periodic table of elements. It\u2019s a precious metal found in its free elemental form in the beds of streams, alluvial deposits, and rock veins. Being a member of the transition metals family of periodic table elements, gold has one valence electron that supports the formation of univalence compounds with this chemical element.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Symbol of Gold<\/td>Au<\/td><\/tr>
Name<\/td>Gold<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic number<\/td>79<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Mass of Gold<\/td>196.96654<\/td><\/tr>
Group of Gold<\/td>Transition Metal<\/td><\/tr>
Period<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Color<\/td>Yellow with a reddish hue<\/td><\/tr>
Physical state<\/td>Solid and soft metal<\/td><\/tr>
Half-life<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
Uses of Gold<\/td>Very malleable. Used in electronics, jewelry and coins. It is a good reflector of infrared radiation, so a thin film of gold is applied to the glass of skyscrapers to reduce internal heating from sunlight.<\/td><\/tr>
Description of Gold<\/td>Heavy, silver-white metal, liquid at ordinary temperatures.<\/td><\/tr>
Shells of Gold<\/td>2,8,18,32,18,1<\/td><\/tr>
Orbitals of Gold<\/td>[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1<\/td><\/tr>
Valence of Gold<\/td>1,3<\/td><\/tr>
Crystal Structure of Gold<\/td>Cubic: Face centered<\/td><\/tr>
Electronegativity according to Pauling<\/td>2.54<\/td><\/tr>
Covalent Radius of Gold<\/td>1.34 \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Ionic radius<\/td>.85 (+3) \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Radius of Gold<\/td>1.79 \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Volume of Gold<\/td>10.2 cm\u00b3\/mol<\/td><\/tr>
Name Origin of Gold<\/td>Anglo-Saxon: geolo (yellow); symbol from Latin: aurum (shining dawn)<\/td><\/tr>
Discovered of Gold By<\/td>Known to the ancients<\/td><\/tr>
Year<\/td>Unknown<\/td><\/tr>
Location<\/td>Unknown<\/td><\/tr>
Pronounced of Gold<\/td>GOLD<\/td><\/tr>
Oxydation States of Gold<\/td>(3),1<\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/td>19.32 g\/cm\u00b3<\/td><\/tr>
Melting point<\/td>1064.18\u00b0C, 1947.52\u00b0F, 1337.33K<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling point<\/td>2836\u00b0C, 5137\u00b0F, 3109 K<\/td><\/tr>
Van der Waals radius<\/td>166 pm<\/td><\/tr>
Isotopes<\/td>169-206Au<\/td><\/tr>
Most characteristic isotope<\/td>197Au<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the first ionization<\/td>9.2257 eV<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the second ionization<\/td>X+ \u2192 X2+ + e\u2212<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the third ionization<\/td>X2+ \u2192 X3+ + e\u2212<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

With the periodic table symbol Au, atomic number 79, the atomic mass of 196.967 g.mol -1, and electronic configuration [Xe] 4f145d106s1, gold is a ductile metal that reaches its boiling point at 2836\u00b0C, 5137\u00b0F, 3109 K, while the melting point is achieved at 1064.18\u00b0C, 1947.52\u00b0F, 1337.33 K. This soft and malleable member of the transition metals family of elements in the periodic table has an electronegativity of 2.54 according to Pauling, whereas the atomic radius according to van der Waals is 166 pm.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being resistant to most of the acids, gold can dissolve in nitric acid and hydrochloric acid mixture labeled as aqua regia. The nitric acid contained in this chemical mixture can dissolve silver<\/a> by itself, but this is not the case with gold. Due to this property, gold can be refined and detected in metal-made objects using the nitric acid test.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Was Gold Discovered?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ancient civilizations were familiar with gold. It\u2019s the earliest metal used by the Egyptians, who considered this chemical substance as a symbol of affluence and beauty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The modern-day story of how gold was discovered includes a truly fortunate stroke of serendipity. It happened in 1848, in California, United States when one James W. Marshall was building a sawmill for John A. Sutter, the sun was merciless. The scorching hot rays made James Marshal pause a bit from the work. As he tried to sweep away the drops of sweat from his forehead, he noticed a shiny nugget on the ground reflecting the sunlight. It was a gold nugget.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This discovery triggered the \u201c<\/span>Gold rush<\/span><\/a>\u201d. After hearing the information on the serendipitous discovery, more than 300,000 people hurried to Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California.\u00a0 They were all driven to travel a long way and search for gold led by the dream of becoming rich overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Did Gold Get Its Name?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Latin \u2018aurum\u2019 is the word that inspired the symbol for gold in the periodic table of elements (Au), but what gave gold its name is the specific color of this precious metal. Namely, \u2018geolo\u2019 is the Anglo-Saxon word for \u2018yellow\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Where Can You Find Gold?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While larger nuggets or grains can be found in their elemental form in rock veins and river stream beds, the universe has its share of gold production. When the neutron stars collide and cause supernova explosions, the dust produced contains traces of gold produced by rapid neutron capture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Gold Price FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Use of Gold in Coinage and Monetary Systems?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since ancient times, gold has been considered a symbol of wealth, a \u2018safe haven\u2019 asset, and a good investment. The Kingdom of Lydia (today\u2019s modern Turkey) was the place where the first gold coins were mint around 640 BC. They were made from an alloy of gold and silver, known as electrum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, even after so much time has passed, this precious metal still represents a great economic force. Namely, when the times are bad for the economy, merchants tend to invest or trade in gold since the price of gold goes up at such times. This was especially apparent after the coronavirus pandemic outbreak in February-March 2020, both in the United States and worldwide. The expectations for new waves of COVID-19 raised the fear that it will cause a new downfall of the <\/span>US dollar<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to determine the potential value of gold as an investment, merchants and traders use two models:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n