Element 79
Gold (Au)
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
- 1,337.33 K (1,064.18 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3,129 K (2,855.85 °C)
- 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
| Isotope | Mass | Abundance | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Au-197 | 196.96657 | 100% | Stable |
Common uses
- Jewelry
- Currency
- Electronics
- Dentistry
Discovery
- Discovered by
- Known since antiquity
- Country
- Unknown
Frequently asked questions
- Is gold a metal?
- Yes. Gold is a metal, classified as a transition metal on the periodic table.
- How many protons does gold have?
- Gold has 79 protons. Its atomic number is 79, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of gold.
- What group and period is gold in?
- Gold is in group 11 and period 6 of the periodic table, in the d-block.
- What is the atomic mass of gold?
- The atomic mass of gold is 196.97 u (unified atomic mass units).
Keep exploring
Gold's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.