Gold (Au)
Transition metal · d-block · period 6 · group 11
Soft, dense, bright yellow, lustrous metal — the only metal that is truly golden.
Gold (symbol Au) is chemical element number 79, a transition metal in group 11, period 6 of the periodic table. Its standard atomic weight is 196.97 and its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1. At room temperature it is a solid. So unreactive it stays bright for thousands of years — Egyptian gold still shines.
Properties
| Atomic number | 79 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 196.97 |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Block | d-block |
| Group · Period | 11 · 6 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 1 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 1337.33 K |
| Boiling point | 3243 K |
| Density | 19.3 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.54 |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | primordial |
| Discovered | Known since antiquity · Known since antiquity |
Key facts about Gold
- So unreactive it stays bright for thousands of years — Egyptian gold still shines.
- So malleable that one gram can be beaten into a sheet a square metre in area.
- Dissolves only in aqua regia, a mix of nitric and hydrochloric acids.
- A thin gold coating reflects heat and is used on satellites and astronaut visors.
What Gold is used for
Jewellery, monetary reserves, electronics connectors, dentistry, spacecraft shielding, medicine.
Where it sits in the periodic table
Gold is in group 11, period 6, of the d-block. Its electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1 means its outermost shell holds 1 electron, which is what places it here and explains much of its chemistry. See Gold on the interactive table →
Gold — frequently asked questions
What is Gold used for?
Jewellery, monetary reserves, electronics connectors, dentistry, spacecraft shielding, medicine.
Is Gold radioactive?
No. Gold has at least one stable isotope and is not radioactive.
What is the electron configuration of Gold?
Gold has the electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1, which is 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 1 electrons per shell.
What group and period is Gold in?
Gold is in group 11, period 6, in the d-block. Its outer shell holds 1 electron.
Who discovered Gold?
Gold has been known since ancient times.