79Au196.97
Gold
Transition metal · element 79 · group 11, period 6
Quick facts
| Symbol | Au |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 79 |
| Relative atomic mass | 196.97 |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Position | group 11, period 6 |
| State at 20 °C | Solid |
| Melting point | 1,064.2 °C |
| Boiling point | 2,856 °C |
| Density | 19.3 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity | 2.54 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1 |
About Gold
Gold has the symbol Au and atomic number 79, which means every gold atom has 79 protons in its nucleus and, in a neutral atom, 79 electrons. At room temperature it is a solid.
Transition metals sit in the middle block of the periodic table. They are usually hard, dense and strong, often form coloured compounds, can have more than one ion charge, and many are useful catalysts.
It melts at 1,064.2 °C and boils at 2,856 °C.
Explore it
See where gold sits, and drag the temperature slider to watch it melt and boil, on the interactive periodic table. Practise with quizzes on OmniEx.