Au
Gold
Atomic number: 79Mass: 196.967 uCategory: Transition Metal
About Gold
Gold is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. It is one of the least reactive chemical elements. Gold has been a symbol of wealth and power since ancient civilisations. It occurs naturally in pure form.
Properties
Period
6
Group
11
Block
D
Category
Transition Metal
Electronegativity
2.54 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
890.1 kJ/mol
Melting Point
1337 K (1064°C)
Boiling Point
3243 K (2970°C)
Density
19.3 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+1, +3
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:32e⁻
Shell 5:18e⁻
Shell 6:1e⁻
Real-World Uses
Jewellery
Monetary standard
Electronics (connectors)
Medicine
Aerospace (heat reflection)
Fun Fact
All the gold ever mined in human history would fit into a cube about 21 metres on each side — less than 3 Olympic swimming pools!