Gold
Gold (金, symbol Au) is chemical element number 79, a Transition Metal in period 6, group 11 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 196.97. The most malleable metal. Symbol of wealth for millennia, used in jewelry, electronics, and finance.
Properties
| Atomic number | 79 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Au |
| Atomic mass | 196.97 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | 11 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹ |
| Electronegativity | 2.54 |
| Covalent radius | 136 pm |
| Density | 19.282 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1337.33 K |
| Boiling point | 3129 K |
| Discovery | Known since antiquity |
Overview
The most malleable metal. Symbol of wealth for millennia, used in jewelry, electronics, and finance. Gold (Au) holds position 79 in the periodic table, a Transition Metal in period 6, group 11. As a transition metal it commonly shows several oxidation states, forms coloured compounds, and is widely used in catalysts and alloys.
With 1 electron in its outermost shell, Gold bonds accordingly; full configuration [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹, electronegativity 2.54. At room temperature it is normally a solid; it melts near 1337.33 K (1064.2 °C), boils near 3129 K (2855.9 °C), has a density around 19.282 g/cm³.
Common applications range across Precious Metal, Electronics / Semiconductors and Medical / Pharma. It has been known since antiquity. The periodic trends guide explains the underlying patterns.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 18 · 1
Main uses
- Precious Metal
- Electronics / Semiconductors
- Medical / Pharma
Hazard
Compounds containing Gold
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Gold yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.