Movebot at 13:33, 2 August 2022

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[[File:Or Venezuela.jpg|thumb|A gold nugget, a piece of gold found in nature]]
[[File:Two 20kr gold coins.png|thumb|right|Two golden 20 kr coins: the coin to the left is [[Sweden|Swedish]] and the right one is [[Denmark|Danish]]]]
[[File:Golden crown Armento Staatliche Antikensammlungen 01.jpg|thumb|right|Ancient golden crown, the [[Kritonios Crown]], 370–360 BC. From a grave in [[Armento]], [[Basilicata]]]]

{{about|the metal|the color|Gold (color)}}

'''Gold''' is a soft, dense, yellow [[metal]]. It is a [[chemical element]]. Its [[chemical symbol]] is '''Au'''. Its [[atomic number]] is 79. As a [[precious metal]], it has been used for many thousands of years by people all over the world, for [[jewelry]], and as [[money]]. Gold is important because it is [[scarcity|rare]], but also easier to use than other [[noble metal|rare metals]]. It is also used to repair and replace [[teeth]] and in electronic equipment such as [[computer]]s. The [[color]] of this metal is also called ''[[Gold (colour)|gold]]''.

[[Mining]] methods for gold are similar to other metals. Gold is so valued that the discovery of a new place to mine has sometimes caused a [[gold rush]]. The deepest workplaces for miners in the world are in [[South Africa]]<nowiki/>n gold mines.

Often, gold is found as a [[native metal]]. This means it is not part of an [[ore]], and does not need [[smelting]]. It may be in large, pure nuggets but more often must be separated from other minerals and [[soil]].

Most of the gold on Earth is deep inside the [[Earth's core]] because it is dense. Nearly all discovered gold was deposited on the surface by [[meteorite]]s.

== Properties ==
In [[chemistry]], gold is [[chemical element]] 79, a [[transition metal]] in Group 11. It has an [[atomic weight]] of 199.966 a.m.u. Its [[symbol]] is '''Au''', from the [[Latin]] word for gold, ''aurum''. It is a "[[noble metal]]" meaning it has low [[Reactivity (chemistry)|chemical reactivity]].

Gold is very soft. It is [[Malleability|malleable]], meaning a [[goldsmith]] can hammer it into thin metal sheets. It is also [[Ductility|ductile]], which means it can be pulled into [[wire]]. When it is used in money or in [[Jewellery|jewelry]], it is often [[alloy]]ed with [[silver]] or some other metal to make it harder.

Most metals are gray in color. Gold is yellow because of the way its [[electron]]s behave.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/gold_color.html|title=Relativity in Chemistry|publisher=Math.ucr.edu|accessdate=2009-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|journal = Chemical Physics|volume = 311|pages = 151–161|title = Understanding gold chemistry through relativity|doi = 10.1016/j.chemphys.2004.09.023|year = 2005|issue = 1–2|bibcode = 2005CP....311..151S |last1 = Schmidbaur|first1 = Hubert|last2 = Cronje|first2 = Stephanie|last3 = Djordjevic|first3 = Bratislav|last4 = Schuster|first4 = Oliver}}</ref> The only other metal in common use that has a non-gray color is [[copper]]. [[Caesium]] also has a gold-like color, but it is not commonly used as a metal because it reacts with water.

Gold is a fairly good electrical conductor, better than aluminium, but not as good as copper or silver. Copper and brass electrical connectors, especially those used with computer and audio/video equipment, are often plated with gold for corrosion resistance. Gold is also a good heat conductor, although it is not commonly used for this purpose due to its cost.
[[File:Nancy Johnson.jpg|thumb|[[Nancy Johnson]] and her [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medal]]

== Language and culture ==
Gold can mean that something or someone is very good or has done very well. A gold [[medal]] is often the given to the first-place winner in a race or other sports. Something that is in some way good may be given [[gold status]].

== Safety ==
Metallic gold is non-toxic, which is unusual for a [[Heavy metals|heavy metal]]. Soluble gold compounds, however, are [[Poison|toxic]] to the liver and kidneys. Gold is non-flammable, even in a pure oxygen environment or when finely powdered. It does not react with most household or laboratory chemicals. Gold is commonly processed with [[cyanide]], which is highly toxic. Most of the cyanide is destroyed in the production process, so it is not present in the final product, but it can be a hazard to workers in a gold processing plant. Since gold conducts electricity, gold jewelry should never be worn when working with electricity.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Relating pages ==
*[[Alchemy]]
== Other websites ==
{{commonscat|Gold}}
{{wiktionary}}
* [http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele079.html Atomic Properties]
* [http://www.goldinstitute.org/ Gold Institute]
* [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Gold Gold] -Citizendium
{{Periodic Table}}

[[Category:Basic English 850 words]]
[[Category:Gold| ]]

Gold - Revision history

Movebot at 13:33, 2 August 2022