Gold [Chemical formula, Physical, Chemical Properties and Reactions]

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: February 3, 2024

Chemical formula of gold is “Au”

Physical Properties of Gold:

Properties Details
Atomic Mass 196.966569 u
Atomic Number 79
Boiling Point 2,807 degrees Celsius
Chemical Symbol Au
Color Yellow
Density 19.32 g/cm³
Luster Metallic
Malleability Highly malleable (can be beaten into sheets)
Melting Point 1,064 degrees Celsius

Chemical Properties of Gold:

Properties Details
Alloys Forms alloys with other metals, such as copper (e.g., gold alloys used in jewelry)
Oxidation State Typically exhibits a +1 or +3 oxidation state
Reactivity Highly unreactive (does not corrode or tarnish easily)
Reactivity with Acids Insoluble in most acids, but dissolves in aqua regia (mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid)
Reactivity with Halogens Forms halides with halogens (e.g., gold chloride)
Reactivity with Oxygen Does not react with oxygen at normal temperatures
Reactivity with Water Insoluble in water
Stability Highly stable in most environmental conditions

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

 

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