The Chemical formula of gold is “Au”.
Characteristics of gold
Properties |
Detail |
Chemical symbol |
Au |
Atomic number |
79 |
Boiling point |
2,807°C (5,084°F) |
Density |
19.3 g/cm³ |
Melting point |
1,064°C (1,947°F) |
Luster |
Metallic |
Color |
Yellow (but can also be found in white, black, and red) |
Reactivity |
Not reactive towards most chemicals and acids |
Ductility |
Very ductile, can be easily stretched into wire |
Conductivity |
Excellent conductor of electricity and heat |
Malleability |
Very malleable, can be easily shaped into thin sheets or wires |
Abundance |
Relatively rare, found in small quantities in the Earth’s crust |
Reaction of gold with Alkali Metal
Alkali Metal |
Reaction |
Lithium (Li) |
Forms an alloy with gold under high pressure and temperature. The resulting alloy is brittle and may decay at room temperature. |
Sodium (Na) |
Reacts slowly with gold in the presence of oxygen , and changes into a sodium aurate compound, NaAuO₂. |
Potassium (K) |
Reacts slowly with gold in the presence of oxygen, and changes into a potassium aurate compound, KAuO₂. |
Rubidium (Rb) |
no reaction |
Cesium (Cs) |
no reaction |
Reaction of gold with Alkaline Earth Metal
Alkaline Earth Metal |
Reaction |
Beryllium (Be) |
Forms an intermetallic compound with gold, AuBe₂, at high temperatures. |
Magnesium (Mg) |
no reaction |
Calcium (Ca) |
no reaction |
Strontium (Sr) |
no reaction |
Barium (Ba) |
no reaction |
Radium (Ra) |
no reaction |
Reaction of gold with Non-Transition Metal
Non-Transition Metal |
Reaction |
Hydrogen (H) |
no reaction |
Helium (He) |
no reaction |
Lithium (Li) |
2Au + 2LiOH + H₂O react and changes into 2Li[Au(OH)₄] + H₂ |
Beryllium (Be) |
2Au + 3BeF₂ react and changes into 2AuBeF₄ |
Boron (B) |
no reaction |
Carbon (C) |
no reaction |
Nitrogen (N) |
no reaction |
Oxygen (O) |
no reaction |
Fluorine (F) |
no reaction |
Neon (Ne) |
no reaction |
Sodium (Na) |
4Au + 8NaCN + O₂ + 2H₂O react and changes into 4Na[Au(CN)₂] + 4NaOH |
Magnesium (Mg) |
no reaction |
Aluminum (Al) |
2Au + 3H₂SO₄ + 2Al react and changes into 2AuAl₃ + 3SO₂ + 3H₂O |
Silicon (Si) |
no reaction |
Phosphorus (P) |
no reaction |
Sulfur (S) |
no reaction |
Chlorine (Cl) |
no reaction |
Argon (Ar) |
no reaction |
Potassium (K) |
4Au + 8KCN + O₂ + 2H₂O react and changes into 4K[Au(CN)₂] + 4KOH |
Calcium (Ca) |
no reaction |
Scandium (Sc) |
Forms an alloy |
Titanium (Ti) |
Forms an alloy |
Vanadium (V) |
Forms an alloy |
Chromium (Cr) |
no reaction |
Manganese (Mn) |
no reaction |
Iron (Fe) |
Forms a gold-iron alloy that has good ductility and is used in jewelry and other decorative items. |
Cobalt (Co) |
Forms a gold-cobalt alloy that is magnetic and has good wear resistance. |
Nickel (Ni) |
Forms a gold-nickel alloy that is hard and has good corrosion resistance. |
Copper (Cu) |
Forms a gold-copper alloy, commonly known as “rose gold”. |
Zinc (Zn) |
no reaction |
Gallium (Ga) |
no reaction |
Germanium (Ge) |
no reaction |
Arsenic ( |
|
Reaction of gold with Non-Metal Element
Non-Metal Element |
Reaction |
Hydrogen (H) |
2AuCl₃ + 6HCl + H₂ react and changes into 2AuCl + 4H₂O |
Helium (He) |
no reaction |
Lithium (Li) |
no reaction |
Beryllium (Be) |
no reaction |
Boron (B) |
no reaction |
Carbon (C) |
2AuCl₃ + 3C + 6HCl react and changes into 2AuCl + 3CO₂ + 6H₂O |
Nitrogen (N) |
no reaction |
Oxygen (O) |
no reaction |
Fluorine (F) |
no reaction |
Neon (Ne) |
no reaction |
Sodium (Na) |
no reaction |
Magnesium (Mg) |
no reaction |
Aluminum (Al) |
no reaction |
Silicon (Si) |
no reaction |
Phosphorus (P) |
no reaction |
Sulfur (S) |
4Au + 8H₂S + O₂ react and changes into 4AuS + 4H₂O |
Chlorine (Cl) |
2AuCl₃ + 3Cl₂ + 6HCl react and changes into 2AuCl + 6HCl |
Argon (Ar) |
no reaction |
Potassium (K) |
no reaction |
Calcium (Ca) |
no reaction |
Scandium (Sc) |
no reaction |
Titanium (Ti) |
no reaction |
Vanadium (V) |
no reaction |
Chromium (Cr) |
no reaction |
Manganese (Mn) |
no reaction |
Iron (Fe) |
no reaction |
Cobalt (Co) |
no reaction |
Nickel (Ni) |
no reaction |
Copper (Cu) |
no reaction |
Zinc (Zn) |
no reaction |
Gallium (Ga) |
no reaction |
Germanium (Ge) |
no reaction |
Arsenic (As) |
no reaction |
Selenium (Se) |
no reaction |
Bromine (Br) |
no reaction |
Krypton (Kr) |
no reaction |
Iodine (I) |
no reaction |
Xenon (Xe) |
no reaction |
Reaction of gold with Metalloid Element
Metalloid Element |
Reaction |
Boron (B) |
no reaction |
Silicon (Si) |
no reaction |
Germanium (Ge) |
no reaction |
Arsenic (As) |
no reaction |
Antimony (Sb) |
Au + SbCl₃ react and changes into AuCl₃ + Sb |
Tellurium (Te) |
2AuCl₃ + 3Te + 6HCl react and changes into 2AuCl + 3TeCl₄ + 6H₂O |
Reaction of gold with Lanthanide Element
Lanthanide Element |
Reaction |
Lanthanum (La) |
no reaction |
Cerium (Ce) |
4AuCl₃ + 3Ce(SO₄)₂ + 18H₂O react and changes into 4Au + 3Ce₂(SO₄)₃ + 24HCl |
Praseodymium (Pr) |
no reaction |
Neodymium (Nd) |
no reaction |
Promethium (Pm) |
no reaction |
Samarium (Sm) |
no reaction |
Europium (Eu) |
no reaction |
Gadolinium (Gd) |
no reaction |
Terbium (Tb) |
no reaction |
Dysprosium (Dy) |
no reaction |
Holmium (Ho) |
no reaction |
Erbium (Er) |
no reaction |
Thulium (Tm) |
no reaction |
Ytterbium (Yb) |
no reaction |
Lutetium (Lu) |
no reaction |
Reaction of gold with Actinide Element
Actinide Element |
Reaction |
Actinium (Ac) |
no reaction |
Thorium (Th) |
no reaction |
Protactinium (Pa) |
no reaction |
Uranium (U) |
2AuCl₃ + 3UO₂ + 12HCl react and changes into 2AuCl + 3UCl₆ + 6H₂O |
Neptunium (Np) |
no reaction |
Plutonium (Pu) |
no reaction |
Americium (Am) |
no reaction |
Curium (Cm) |
no reaction |
Berkelium (Bk) |
no reaction |
Californium (Cf) |
no reaction |
Einsteinium (Es) |
no reaction |
Fermium (Fm) |
no reaction |
Mendelevium (Md) |
no reaction |
Nobelium (No) |
no reaction |
Lawrencium (Lr) |
no reaction |