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Get the facts on gold's chemical and physical properties, and what makes the element so resilient." itemprop="description"> <meta name="emailcontenttype" content="STRUCTUREDCONTENT" /> <meta name="emailvertical" content="THOUGHTCO" /> <meta name="sailthru.author" content="Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D." /> <meta name="sailthru.tags" content="sciences-math,science,chemistry,periodic-table" /> <meta name="parsely-section" content="Science, Tech, Math" /> <meta name="parsely-tags" content="ThoughtCo,Science, Tech, Math,Science,Chemistry,Periodic Table" />  <meta itemprop="name" content="Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold" /> <meta property="article:section" content="ThoughtCo" />  <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="ThoughtCo" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.thoughtco.com/gold-facts-606539" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Know Your Elements: Gold Facts" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Gold has been prized since prehistoric times. 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Properties of Gold</h1> </div></div> </div><div class="loc article-post-header"><div id="post-header-social-block_1-0" class="comp post-header-social-block mntl-block"><div id="social-share-block_1-0" class="comp social-share-block mntl-block"><ul id="social-share_1-0" class="comp social-share mntl-social-share share" data-title="Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold" document="StructuredContentDocumentEx{parent=BaseDocumentEx{templateType=STRUCTUREDCONTENT, documentId=606539, bestTitle='Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold'}}" data-description="Gold has been prized since prehistoric times. 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She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels." tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/anne-marie-helmenstine-ph-d-601916" rel="nocaes" data-trigger-link="true" class="mntl-attribution__item-name" tabindex="-1" >Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.</a> <div id="mntl-author-tooltip_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip mntl-tooltip mntl-group "> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__top mntl-author-tooltip__top--no-image"> <div id="mntl-author-tooltip__name_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__name mntl-attribution__item "> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/anne-marie-helmenstine-ph-d-601916" rel="nocaes" class="mntl-attribution__item-name" tabindex="0" >Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.</a> </div> <div id="mntl-author-tooltip__social-nav_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__social-nav reference-social-nav mntl-social-nav" data-tracking-container="true"> <ul class="social-nav__list"> <li class="social-nav__item social-nav__item--facebook"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aboutcom-Chemistry/244818558903541" target="_blank" rel="noopener nocaes" class="social-nav__link social-nav__link--facebook" aria-label="Visit Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.'s Facebook" > <svg class="icon icon-facebook social-nav__icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-facebook" href="#icon-facebook"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="social-nav__item social-nav__item--x"> <a href="https://twitter.com/azareal" target="_blank" rel="noopener nocaes" class="social-nav__link social-nav__link--x" aria-label="Visit Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.'s X" > <svg class="icon icon-x social-nav__icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-x" href="#icon-x"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <span id="mntl-author-tooltip__job-title_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__job-title mntl-text-block">Chemistry Expert</span> <ul id="mntl-author-tooltip__education_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education mntl-block"><li id="mntl-author-tooltip__education-item_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education-item mntl-text-block">Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville</li> <li id="mntl-author-tooltip__education-item_2-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education-item mntl-text-block">B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College</li></ul> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__bio"> Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. </div> </div> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__bottom"> <span class="mntl-author-tooltip__learn-more-text">Learn about our</span> <a href="/about-us-4779650#toc-editorial-guidelines" rel="nocaes" class="mntl-author-tooltip__learn-more-link" >Editorial Process</a> </div> </div></div> </div> <div class="mntl-attribution__item-date">Updated on August 31, 2024</div></div> </div></div> </div><div class="loc article-content"><div id="article-content_1-0" class="comp article-content mntl-block"><div id="mntl-sc-page_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-page mntl-block structured-content expert-content" data-sc-sticky-offset="85" data-sc-ad-label-height="24" data-sc-ad-track-spacing="100" data-sc-min-track-height="250" data-sc-max-track-height="600" data-sc-breakpoint="50em" data-sc-load-immediate="3" data-sc-content-positions="[1, 1050, 1250, 1550, 1950, 2350, 2750, 3150]" data-bind-scroll-on-start="true"><p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Gold, an element known to ancient man, has always been prized for its color. It was used as jewelry in prehistoric times, alchemists spent their lives trying to transmute other metals into it, and it's still one of the most prized metals. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_2-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_3-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Below, discover some basic facts about gold, its common uses, information on where it's found, and a bit of fun gold trivia. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_4-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-gold-basics"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_5-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Gold Basics </span> </h2> <ul id="mntl-sc-block_6-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <li><strong>Atomic Number:</strong> 79</li><li><strong>Symbol:</strong> Au</li><li><strong>Atomic Weight:</strong> 196.9665</li><li><strong>Discovery:</strong> known since prehistoric time</li><li><strong>Electron Configuration:</strong> [Xe]6s<sup>1</sup>4f<sup>14</sup>5d<sup>10</sup></li><li><strong>Word Origin:</strong> Sanskrit <em>Jval</em>; Anglo-Saxon <em>gold</em>; meaning gold - also Latin <em>aurum</em>, shining dawn</li><li><strong>Isotopes:</strong> There are 36 known isotopes of gold ranging from Au-170 to Au-205. There's only one stable isotope of gold: Au-197. Gold-198, with a half-life of 2.7 days, has been used to treat cancer and other illnesses.</li> </ul> <div id="mntl-sc-block_7-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-gold-physical-data"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_8-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Gold Physical Data </span> </h2> <ul id="mntl-sc-block_9-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <li><strong>Density (g/cc):</strong> 19.3</li> <li><strong>Melting Point (°K):</strong> 1337.58</li> <li><strong>Boiling Point (°K):</strong> 3080</li> <li><strong>Appearance:</strong> soft, malleable, yellow metal</li> <li><strong>Atomic Radius (pm):</strong> 146</li> <li><strong>Atomic Volume (cc/mol):</strong> 10.2</li> <li><strong>Covalent Radius (pm):</strong> 134</li> <li><strong>Ionic Radius:</strong> 85 (+3e) 137 (+1e)</li> <li><strong>Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol):</strong> 0.129</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/heat-of-fusion-melting-ice-problem-609498" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">Fusion Heat</a> (kJ/mol):</strong> 12.68</li> <li><strong>Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol):</strong> ~340</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/heat-energy-definition-and-examples-2698981" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">Debye Temperature</a> (°K):</strong> 170.00</li> <li><strong>Pauling Negativity Number:</strong> 2.54</li> <li><strong>First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol):</strong> 889.3</li> <li><strong>Oxidation States:</strong> 3, 1. The oxidation states -1, +2, and +5 exist but are rare.</li> <li><strong>Lattice Structure:</strong> Face-Centered Cubic (FCC)</li> <li><strong>Lattice Constant (Å):</strong> 4.080</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/density-and-specific-gravity-differences-606114" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="3">Specific Gravity</a> (20°C):</strong> 18.88</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-cas-number-3975940" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="4">CAS Registry Number</a>:</strong> 7440-57-5</li> </ul> <div id="mntl-sc-block_10-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-properties"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_11-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Properties </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_12-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> In mass, gold is a yellow-colored metal, although it may be black, ruby, or purple when finely divided. Gold is a good electricity and heat <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-conductor-in-science-605845" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">conductor</a>. It's not affected by exposure to air or most reagents. Gold is inert and a good reflector of infrared radiation. It's usually alloyed to increase its strength. Pure gold is measured in troy weight, but when gold is alloyed with other metals, the term <em>karat</em> is used to express the amount of gold present. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_13-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-common-uses-for-gold"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_14-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Common Uses for Gold </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_15-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Gold is used in coinage and is the standard for many monetary systems. You'll find gold in jewelry, dental work, plating, and reflectors. Chlorauric acid (HAuCl<sub>4</sub>) is used in photography to tone silver images. Disodium aurothiomalate, administered intramuscularly, is a treatment for arthritis. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_16-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-where-gold-is-found"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_17-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Where Gold Is Found </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_18-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Gold is found as a free metal and in tellurides. It's widely distributed and almost always associated with pyrite or quartz. Gold is found in veins and alluvial deposits. <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/how-is-gold-formed-4683984" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">It occurs in seawater</a> in the amount of 0.1 to 2 mg/ton, depending on the location of the sample. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_19-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-gold-trivia"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_20-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Gold Trivia </span> </h2> <ul id="mntl-sc-block_21-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <li>Gold is one of the few elements found in its native state.</li> <li>Gold is the most malleable and ductile metal. One ounce of gold can be beaten to 300 ft<sup>2</sup> or stretched into a wire 2000 kilometers long (1 μm thick).</li> <li>Gold's melting point is an assigned value, which serves as a calibration point for the International Temperature Scale and International Practical Temperature Scale.</li> <li>The gold ion in the +1 oxidation state (Au(I)<sup>+</sup>) is called the aurous ion.</li> <li>The gold ion in the +3 oxidation state (Au(III)<sup>3+</sup>) is called the auric ion.</li> <li>Compounds containing gold in the -1 <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/oxidation-state-vs-oxidation-number-604032" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">oxidation state</a> are called aurides (cesium and rubidium can form auride compounds).</li> <li>Gold is one of the <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/introduction-to-noble-metals-608444" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">noble metals</a>. <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/list-of-noble-metals-608442" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="3">Noble metal</a> is an alchemical term for metals that don't corrode under normal conditions.</li> <li>Gold is the seventh most dense metal.</li> <li>Metallic gold has no odor or taste.</li> <li>Gold has been used as jewelry since prehistoric times. Today, gold in jewelry isn't pure gold. Jewelry gold is made of many different <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/composition-of-gold-alloys-608016" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="4">gold alloys</a>.</li> <li>Gold is resistant to most acids. The acid <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/making-aqua-regia-acid-solution-603641" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="5">aqua regia</a> is used to dissolve gold.</li><span class="mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-sc-block-adslot-inline"></span> <li>Elemental gold metal is considered non-toxic and occasionally used as a food additive.</li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-transmutation-and-examples-604672" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="6">Transmuting lead</a> into gold was one of the major goals of the alchemists. Modern nuclear chemists have found <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/turning-lead-into-gold-602104" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="7">methods to accomplish this historic task</a>.</li> </ul> <div id="mntl-sc-block_22-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-references"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_23-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> References </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_24-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <cite>Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (1952) International Atomic Energy Agency ENSDF database (Oct 2010)</cite> </p></div> <div id="sources-and-citation_1-0" class="comp sources-and-citation mntl-block"><div id="citation-widget_1-0" class="comp citation-widget js-citation-widget" data-tracking-container="true"> <div class="citation-widget__container js-container"> <button class="citation-widget__button js-button"> <span class="citation-widget__cite-label">Cite this Article </span> <svg class="icon icon-cite citation-widget__icon-cite" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-cite" href="#icon-cite"></use> </svg> </button> <div class="citation-widget__window js-window"> <svg class="icon icon-close citation-widget__icon-close js-icon-close" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-close" href="#icon-close"></use> </svg> <div class="citation-widget__heading">Format</div> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link citation-widget__format-link--active js-format-link">mla</a> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link js-format-link">apa</a> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link js-format-link">chicago</a> <div class="citation-widget__heading">Your Citation</div> <div class="citation-widget__content js-content"> <span class="citation-widget__citation citation-widget__citation--active js-active" data-citation-format="mla">Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold." ThoughtCo, Sep. 1, 2024, thoughtco.com/gold-facts-606539.</span> <span class="citation-widget__citation" data-citation-format="apa">Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2024, September 1). Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/gold-facts-606539</span> <span class="citation-widget__citation" data-citation-format="chicago">Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Chemical and Physical Properties of Gold." 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