Element 79

Gold (Au)

Transition metal · Period 6 · Group 11 · d-block

Gold (Au) is element 79 of the periodic table, a transition metal in period 6, group 11 (d-block) with an atomic mass of 196.97 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
79
Symbol
Au
Atomic mass
196.97 u
Category
Transition metals
Period
6
Group
11
Block
d-block
Phase at STP
solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s1
Shorthand configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 1
Oxidation states
-3, -2, -1, +1, +2, +3, +5

Physical properties

Melting point
1337.33 K
Boiling point
3129 K
Density
19.282 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
2.54
Atomic radius
174 pm
Covalent radius
136 pm
Van der Waals radius
166 pm
First ionization energy
890 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
223 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Au-197196.96657100%Stable

Common uses

  • Jewelry
  • Currency
  • Electronics
  • Dentistry

Discovery

Discovered by
Known since antiquity
Country
Unknown

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