Gold

A gold nugget, the name given to a piece of gold found in nature. This gold nugget is big.

This page is about the metal. For the color, see Gold (color).

Gold is a soft, heavy, shiny metal. It has been used for many thousands of years by people all over the world, for jewelry, decoration, and as money. Gold was important because it was rare, but also easier to use than other rare metals. It is also used to repair teeth and in electronic equipment such as computers. The color of this metal is also called gold.

Chemical properties

In chemistry, gold is chemical element 79, a transition metal in Group 11. It has an atomic weight of 199.96 a.m.u. Its symbol is Au, from the Latin word for gold, aurum.

Gold is very soft. A goldsmith can hammer it into thin metal sheets. It is also ductile, which means it can be pulled into wire. When it is used in money or in jewelry, it is often mixed with silver or some other metal to make it harder.

Most metals are gray in color. Gold is yellow because of the way its electrons behave. The only other metal in common use that has a non-gray color is copper.

Language and culture

Nancy Johnson and her Olympic gold medal

Gold can mean that something or someone is very good or has done very well. A gold medal is often the given to the first place winner in a race or other sport.

Alluvial gold

Alluvial gold is gold that is found above the ground. Edward Hargraves was an Australian man who discovered gold in Australia. This discovery started the Australian gold rush

Other websites

• Atomic Properties
• Gold Institute