Periodic table / Gold

Overview

Gold is a chemical element with symbol Au (from Latin:aurum) and atomic number 79. In its purest form, it is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal and a group 11 element.

Electron configuration

The electron configuration of Gold is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1, with electron shells of 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 1.

Physical and chemical properties

Gold is classified as a transition metal. It has an atomic mass of 196.967 and exists as a solid at standard conditions, appearing as metallic yellow.

Real-world uses of Gold

As a transition metal, Gold is typically used in alloys, industrial manufacturing, electronics, or as a catalyst in chemical reactions.

Interesting facts about Gold

• Gold has the atomic number 79 and chemical symbol Au.
• It belongs to period 6, group 11 of the periodic table.
• Gold was discovered by Middle East.

Explore Gold interactively

Want to compare Gold with other elements or see it highlighted on the full table? Open the interactive periodic table and click on Au to explore properties, trends, and neighboring elements. You can also test your knowledge with our periodic table quiz game.