Gold (Au)

Gold properties

Atomic number

79

Atomic mass

196.97 u

Category

Transition metal

Group

11

Period

6

Block

d-block

State at room temp.

Solid

Electronegativity

2.54

Melting point

1,337.33 K (1,064.2 °C)

Boiling point

3,243 K (2,969.8 °C)

Density

19.3 g/cm³

Valence electrons

1

Common charges

+1, +3

Oxidation states

+3, +1

Atomic radius

166 pm

Ionization energy

9.226 eV

Electron affinity

2.309 eV

Radioactive

No, has stable isotopes

Discovered

Ancient

Gold electron configuration

The electron configuration of Gold (Au) is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1. Its 79 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 1.

Protons, neutrons and electrons in Gold

A neutral Gold atom has 79 protons and 79 electrons. Most Gold atoms have about 118 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 197, minus the atomic number 79.

Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass

How many valence electrons does Gold have?

1

Gold has 1 valence electron, counting the electrons in its outermost s subshell. Like most transition metals, it can also use d electrons in bonding.

See every element: Periodic table with valence electrons

Gold orbital diagram

Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations

Molar mass of Gold

196.97 g/mol

One mole of Gold atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 196.97 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.

Gold facts

• Gold is so malleable that a single gram can be beaten into a sheet of about one square metre.
• Gold doesn't tarnish, which is why ancient gold artefacts still shine.
• Gold (Au) has atomic number 79 and is a solid at room temperature. It has been known since ancient times.

Position in the periodic table

Gold is element 79, in period 6 and group 11 of the periodic table, in the d-block.

All transition metals

Uses of Gold

Gold is used mainly for jewelry and as an investment, in bars, coins, and central bank reserves. Because it conducts electricity well and resists corrosion, thin gold coatings are used on electrical connectors, and fine gold wires link chips inside electronics. Gold is also used in dentistry, in reflective coatings on spacecraft and astronaut visors, and as tiny particles that produce the colored line in many rapid diagnostic tests.

Who discovered Gold?

Gold has been known since ancient times; it is one of the few metals found naturally in pure form, as nuggets and flakes, so it was among the first metals people used. Its symbol, Au, comes from the Latin word aurum.

Where does the name come from?

Gold comes from the Old English gold, from an ancient root meaning 'yellow' or 'bright'. Its symbol, Au, comes from the Latin aurum, the Roman word for gold.

Discovery timeline