Gold has always been a symbol of wealth and beauty. From ancient coins and royal crowns to modern jewelry and electronics, this shiny yellow metal has been valued for centuries. But gold is more than just a pretty metal; it has unique properties that make it useful in many fields. In this article, we’ll explore what gold is, its properties, different forms, and uses in real life. Let’s scroll down to learn all about gold.

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What is Gold?

Gold is a member of the noble metal family, gold is a beautiful and expensive metal whose name is derived from the Latin aurum, meaning gold. It has the atomic symbol ‘Au’ and does not interact with other substances or elements. Due to its soft nature, 24 carats in designation and alloys with other metals are pure gold. Only Au-197 isotopes are stable. It may be discovered naturally in veins and alluvial deposits in the free form and combined with calcite, quartz, silver, lead, zinc, and copper. Approximately 1500 pounds of gold are extracted annually. Auric chloride \(\mathrm {AuCl}_3 ) \) and chloroauric acid \(\mathrm{HAuCl}_4)\) are the most prevalent gold derivatives. Aqua regia is a solution that combines one component of nitric acid with three parts of hydrochloric acid (because it dissolved gold, the King of Metals). Air and most reagents have little effect on it.

It is a d-block element having group number 11 and period number 6. The number of gold electrons, protons, and neutrons is 79, 79, and 118, respectively.

Electronic Configuration of Gold 

In an atom, the electrons orbit the nucleus on various shells. The electronic configuration of an element is defined as the number of electrons in each of its shells. Gold has the electronic configuration \([\mathrm{Xe}] 4 \mathrm{f}^{14} 5 \mathrm{~d}^{10} 6 \mathrm{~s}^{1}\)

The gold atom’s electrons per shell may be expressed more succinctly as 2,8,18,32,18,1. Gold’s valency ranges from (-1) to +5, with +1 and +3 being the most frequent values. Gold has valency 1 and 3 which are stable.

Physical Properties of Gold

Chemical Properties of Gold

Types of Gold Based on Purity

Occurrence of Gold

Gold is an element that occurs naturally. It is present in low amounts across all igneous rocks. Its abundance in the crust of the Earth is thought to be 0.005 parts per million. It mostly happens in its natural condition. Except for tellurium, selenium, and bismuth, it is often chemically pure. Au-197 is the only isotope of this metal that is found naturally.

Even though the amount of gold present can occasionally be quite little, it is easily removed as a byproduct while processing these base metals. Gold also occurs in combination with deposits of copper and lead. Large quantities of gold-bearing rock that are sufficiently rich to be considered ores are extremely rare.

Uses of Gold

Gold has been one of the precious metal and element known and due to its various properties it has been used in various fields which are discussed below:

• Jewellery, glass, electronics, and bouillon are all made of gold. About 75% of all gold produced is used in jewellery. Different metals are alloyed with it. Gold for jewellery can have a variety of colours (white, red, blue, green, etc.).
• Glass may be colored red or purple by adding colloidal gold, and big building windows can be coated with metallic gold to reflect solar heat. The electronic industry uses gold electroplating to shield copper components and enhance solderability.
• Gold coins are occasionally used as legal cash and a means of exchange in certain nations.
• For needlework, gold is transformed into a thread.
• In addition, gold is used in pharmaceuticals. Body cancers are treated with the radioactive isotope Au-198 of this substance.
• Astronaut helmets are covered with a thin coating of gold to shield them from UV rays.
• To mimic the sun’s heat, a thin layer of this metal is applied to the windows of a big structure.
• In large-scale chemical processes that produce chemicals like polyvinyl acetate, the colloidal suspension of gold nanoparticles serves as an industrial catalyst.

Side Effects of Gold

Some of the ill-effects of gold has been listed below:

• Resulting from exposure Inhalation: If exposure is prolonged or excessive, it may irritate. Ingestion: No negative consequences are anticipated. Skin: May cause allergic response and itchiness—eye: Potentially irritating.

• Chrysoteraphy, a therapeutic method, uses gold to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It is prescribed when non-steroid anti-inflammatories are not working to provide relief.

• Gold’s ecotoxicity has not been examined. The biodegradation of gold in aerobic circumstances is anticipated to be relatively poor, and there is no proof that its discharge into the environment causes ecological issues. It is thought that gold has few bioaccumulation and bioavailability features because it is insoluble.

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