Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Au |
| Atomic Number | 79 |
| Atomic Mass | 196.97 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | 11 |
| Block | d |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹ |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| State at 20°C | Solid |
| Density | 19.30 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1064°C (1337 K) |
| Boiling Point | 2856°C (3129 K) |
| Appearance | Bright yellow, lustrous metal |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Known since antiquity Year of Discovery: ~6000 BCE Location: Various ancient civilizations
Etymology
Symbol "Au" from Latin "aurum" meaning "shining dawn."
Applications and Uses
- Jewelry and decorative arts
- Investment and currency
- Electronics (connectors, wires)
- Dentistry
- Aerospace (radiation shielding)
- Medical applications
Interesting Facts
- All gold ever mined would fit in a 21-meter cube
- Gold is edible and used in luxury foods
- A single ounce can be stretched into 50 miles of wire
- Fort Knox holds about 147 million ounces
- Gold is formed in supernovae and neutron star collisions