196.967
Atomic Mass (u)
1064.18 C
Melting Point
2856 C
Boiling Point
19.282 g/cm3
Density
2.54
Electronegativity
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1
Electron Config
6
Period
11
Group
📖 About Gold
The symbol of wealth across virtually all human cultures and one of the first metals worked by humans. Gold's resistance to corrosion means it survives unchanged for millennia. All gold ever mined in human history would fit in a cube about 22 meters on each side. Scientists now believe most of Earth's gold came from neutron star mergers.
🔧 Uses and Applications
- Currency and investment (gold standard historically)
- Electronics (corrosion-free connectors)
- Jewelry
- Medical implants (biocompatible)
- Space telescope mirrors (gold reflects infrared well)
💡 Did You Know?
Fact: The James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror is coated in a thin layer of gold (just 100 nanometers thick) because gold reflects infrared light better than any other material. The total gold used was only about 48 grams across the entire 6.5-meter mirror.