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Gold is a metallic element denoted by the symbol “Au” and atomic number 79. In the periodic table, it belongs to the sixth period and group 11. Gold can easily be found in low amounts in all igneous rocks. However, large amounts of gold-bearing rock rich enough to be considered ores are extremely rare. Gold is also one of the least reactive chemical metals which is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It has strong corrosion resistance and is extremely long-lasting.
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Keywords: Gold, Metal, Symbol, Uses, Periodic Table
Uses of Gold
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Gold has several important applications spanning various kinds of industries. This includes making jewelry primarily. Following are some of the uses of gold:
- Uses in Jewellery
- Uses in Electronics
- Uses in Medicine
- Niche Uses
Uses in Jewellery
Gold is considered to be a precious metal and hence is widely used in ornaments and jewelry.
- Gold is alloyed with other metals such as copper to increase its hardness.
- Gold is also known for being woven into threads and used in embroidery.

Gold
Uses in Electronics
Gold is widely used in the electronics industry for the fabrication of electrical connectors that are resistant to corrosion.
- Approximately 50 milligrams of gold are used in today’s smartphones.
- Gold is also employed as a coating in various wiring, such as USB cords, video cables, etc.
- Switch contacts that are highly susceptible to corrosion are made up of gold.
- The process of employing fine wires of gold to connect devices is commonly known as wire bonding.
Uses in Medicine
Alloys of gold are used in restorative dentistry.
- Colloidal gold is widely used in medical and fields of material research.
- The gold-198 isotope is known to be used in the field of nuclear medicine for the treatment of some forms of cancer.
Niche Uses
Gold is often used as a coloring agent, especially in cranberry glass.
- Gold is also used in the field of photography.
- Gold is applied on the surface of artificial satellites since it is a great reflector of electromagnetic radiation.
- Gold is also used in a type of high-end CD called gold compact disks.
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| Important Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Periodic Table | Periodic Classification of Elements | Metal |
Properties of Gold
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Following are some properties of gold:
- Gold is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
- Gold is a soft, bright, malleable, and ductile metal.
- The symbol of gold is Au.
- The atomic mass of gold is 196.967g/mol.
- The melting point of gold is 1337.33K and the boiling point is 3109K.
- The density of gold is 19.3 g/cm-3.
Things to Remember
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- Gold is a metallic element denoted by the symbol “Au” and atomic number 79.
- It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
- Gold is a soft, bright, malleable, and ductile metal.
- Gold is the least reactive metal and has strong corrosion resistance.
- It is most commonly used in jewelry, electric components, and in medical research.

Gold Atomic number
Do Check Out:
| Important Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abnormal Molar Masses | Ionic Radius | Classification of elements |
| Variable Valency | Transition Metals | Reactivity of Elements |
| Refining of metals | D Block Elements | Noble Gases |
Previous Year Questions
- What is the oxidation number of gold in the complex…?
- Does the gold number indicate…? (AMUEEE 2010)
- The cyanide process of gold extraction involves leaching out gold from its ore with CN− in the presence of Q in water to form R…? (JEE Advanced 2019)
- In the Goldschmidt aluminothermic process which of the following reducing agents is used…? (JEE Main 2013)
- Hemoglobin and gold sol are examples of…? (JEE Main 2019)
- The gold number is associated with…?
- Colloidal solution of gold is prepared by…?
- Thermal decomposition of HI on the gold surface is…?
- The IUPAC name of the complex ion formed when gold dissolves in aqua regia is…? (KCET 2014)
- Gold sol is not a…? (KCET 2018)
- Gold is extracted by hydrometallurgical process, based on its property…? (KCET 2005)
- Extraction of gold and silver involves leaching with CN− ion. Silver is later recovered by…? (NEET 2017)
- An alloy of copper, silver, and gold is found to have copper atoms constituting the ccp lattice. If silver atoms occupy the edge centers… (VITEEE 2015)
Sample Questions
Ques: Define gold. (2 marks)
Ans: Gold is a metallic element denoted by the symbol “Au” and atomic number 79. In the periodic table, it belongs to the sixth period and group 11. Gold can easily be found in low amounts in all igneous rocks.
Ques: How is gold used in the making of jewelry? (3 marks)
Ans: Gold is considered to be precious metal and hence is widely used in ornaments and jewelry. It is alloyed with other metals such as copper to increase its hardness. Gold is also known for being woven into threads and used in embroidery. It is a lustrous metal, looks beautiful, and has also been traditionally used as an adornment.
Ques: How does gold help in the space exploration sector? (2 marks)
Ans: Gold plays an important part in the space industry since astronauts' helmets are coated with a small layer of gold to protect them from the sun’s radiation while in space. It is also applied on the surface of artificial satellites since it is a great reflector of electromagnetic radiation.
Ques: What is the application of gold in medical science? (2 marks)
Ans: Some kinds of arthritis and associated disorders respond well to gold as a treatment. It relieves joint pain and stiffness in certain patients, reduces swelling and bone damage, and lowers the risk of joint deformity and impairment. Au-198, a radioactive isotope, is used to treat certain tumors.
Ques: What are some properties of gold? (4 marks)
Ans: Following are some properties of gold:
- The symbol of gold is Au.
- The atomic mass of gold is 196.967g/mol.
- The melting point of gold is 1337.33K and the boiling point is 3109K.
- The density of gold is 19.3 g/cm-3.
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