According to the periodic table, au is the name of the element of gold. Gold is the only naturally occurring yellow metal, yet there’s still a lot to learn about this precious metal.

Gold Facts

• The only metals that can be described as yellow or “golden” is gold.
• It is possible for other metals to take on a yellowish hue, but this will only happen after the metals have been oxidized or have interacted with other chemicals.
• Meteorites that rained down on Earth more than 200 million years after the plane originated are almost entirely responsible for the world’s gold supply.
• The traditional Latin term for gold was aurum, which literally translates to “shining dawn” or “glow of morning.” This is where the element symbol for gold, Au, comes from.
• The term “gold” originates from the Germanic and may be traced back to the Proto-Germanic and The Proto-Indo-European terms gul and ghel, which imply “yellow” and “green,” respectively, have survived into modern languages. People have had knowledge of the metal in its most unadulterated form dating back to ancient times.
• Gold has a very high degree of ductility. It is possible to create a gold thread that is 5 miles (or 8 kilometers) long with just one ounce of gold (about 28 kilos). Embroidery is another usage for gold threads that can be done.
• The ease with which a substance may be pounded out into thin sheets is a good indicator of its malleability.
• Gold has the highest degree of malleability of any element. One ounce of gold can be hammered into a sheet that is three hundred square feet in size.
• It is possible to create a sheet of gold that is so thin that it is see-through. Due to the fact that gold powerfully reflects red and yellow light, extremely thin sheets of gold may seem greenish blue.
• Gold is not typically thought to be toxic, despite the fact that it is a heavy and dense metal. Flakes of gold metal can be consumed in either food or drink, despite the fact that it is a common allergen for some people.
• One karat of pure gold is equivalent to 24 karats of elemental gold, while 18 karat gold is equivalent to 75% pure gold, 14 karat gold is equivalent to 58.5 % pure gold, & 10 karat gold is equivalent to 41.7 % pure gold.
• Silver makes up the remainder of the precious metal that is typically used in gold jewelry and other products.
• However, these items can also be composed of other metals or a mixture of metals, including silver, metal, platinum, zinc, nickel, iron, & cadmium, among others.
• Gold is regarded as a precious metal. It is not very reactive and is resistant to deterioration brought on by air, water, or situations that are acidic.
• Although acids are effective at dissolving most metals, the process of dissolving gold requires a unique combination of acids known as aqua regia.
• In addition to its monetary & symbolic significance, gold has a wide range of practical applications.
• It has a variety of uses, including those in the fields of electronics, electrical cables, dentistry, medical, radiation shielding, and tinting glass, amongst other applications.
• Gold that has been refined to a very high purity lacks both an odor and a flavor. Since the metal does not react with anything, this makes perfect sense.
• The flavor and odor of metallic elements or compounds can be attributed to the presence of metal ions.