gold

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Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia: gold mine

For Students

gold summary

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gold

chemical element

Also known as: Au, aurum

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2025 • Article History

Key People:: Jay Gould; Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe; Barney Barnato; James Fisk; John Hays Hammond

Related Topics:: gold processing; silver; Gold-plated investing strategy? Shiny metal and your portfolio; Do gold and other precious metals have a place in your retirement portfolio?; goldreef

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panningSorted gold in a pan, Alaska, U.S.

gold (Au), chemical element, a dense lustrous yellow precious metal of Group 11 (Ib), Period 6, of the periodic table of the elements. Gold has several qualities that have made it exceptionally valuable throughout history. It is attractive in colour and brightness, durable to the point of virtual indestructibility, highly malleable, and usually found in nature in a comparatively pure form. The history of gold is unequaled by that of any other metal because of its perceived value from earliest times.

Element Properties
atomic number	79
atomic weight	196.96657
melting point	1,063 °C (1,945 °F)
boiling point	2,966 °C (5,371 °F)
specific gravity	19.3 at 20 °C (68 °F)
oxidation states	+1, +3
electron configuration	[Xe]4f¹⁴5d¹⁰6s¹