What is Gold? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts
What is Gold?
Gold is the 3rd element in the 11th column of the periodic table. It is classified as a transition metal. Gold atoms have 79 electrons and 79 protons with 118 neutrons in the most isotope form.
Characteristics and Properties
Under standard conditions, gold is a shiny yellow metal. It is very dense and heavy, but also quite soft. Gold is the most malleable metal, which means it can be forged into a very fine sheet. It is also one of the most ductile metals and can be easily drawn into a long wire.
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Gold is not just a beautiful metal. It is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. It is also one of the metals most resistant to corrosion and rust when exposed to air and water.
Highlights of Gold:
| Symbol | Au |
| Atomic Number | 79 |
| Atomic Weight | 196.966 |
| Classification | Transition metal |
| Phase at Room Temperature | Solid |
| Density | 19.282 grams per cm cubed |
| Melting Point | 1064°C, 1947°F |
| Boiling Point | 2856°C, 5173°F |
| Discovered by | Known about since ancient times |
Where is the Gold found on Earth?
How is Gold used today?
Gold has been used for thousands of years to make jewelry and coins. Today, it is still used as jewelry and some collector’s edition coins. Gold is also considered an important and reliable investment.
When gold is used in jewelry or coins, it is usually not pure gold. Pure gold is called 24 karat gold and it is very soft. Generally, gold is alloyed with other metals such as copper or silver to make it harder and more durable.
Gold is widely used in the electronics industry due to its good electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion. Many electrical contacts and connectors are gold-plated for added protection and reliability.
Other uses of gold include heat shielding, dental work, cancer treatment, and decorations such as gold wire and gilding.
How was it discovered?
Gold has been known since ancient times. Civilizations like ancient Egypt used gold more than 5,000 years ago. It has long been a substance of value and wealth.
Where did Gold get its name?
Gold gets its name from the Anglo-Saxon word “geolo” meaning yellow. The symbol Au comes from the Latin word for gold, “aurum”.
Isotopes
Gold has only one naturally occurring stable isotope: gold-197.
Interesting Facts about Gold
An ounce of gold can be forged into a slab 300 feet wide and 300 feet long. It’s bigger than a football field! That same ounce can form a fiber nearly 100 kilometers long.
South Africa was once the world’s largest supplier of gold, but today China and Australia produce the most gold.
Pieces of gold were sometimes sprinkled on the food of the rich in the Middle Ages.
Many people came to California during the Gold Rush in the late 1840s when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill.
Gold can be forged thin enough to let light through. If all the gold ever discovered was melted down, it would form a cube with sides about 25 meters each.