Skip to content

Search the chemistry universe

Elements, molecules, concepts, simulations, experiments and pages.

Enter a formula, name or conceptFull search

Gold atom & ion lab

Change the electron count of Gold and inspect its charge, shells and reviewed atomic properties.

UndergraduateLive

Scientific learning path

  1. 01UnderstandLive
  2. 02ExploreLive
  3. 03ExperimentLive
  4. 04ObserveLive
  5. 05ExplainLive
  6. 06ApplyLive
  7. 07TestLive
Explanation mode
Au

Core label represents the fixed nuclear charge; individual neutrons are not inferred from standard atomic weight.

Reviewed atomic properties

Unavailable measurements remain explicitly unavailable.

First ionization energy890.1 kJ mol⁻¹
Covalent radius136 pm
Electronegativity2.54 Pauling

Relativistic contraction of the 6s orbital shifts gold’s absorption into the blue, which is why it looks yellow rather than silver.

Description of this simulation

Gold is neutral here: 79 protons are balanced by 79 electrons across shells 2, 8, 18, 32, 17, 2.

Quick test · 3 questions
1. Which statement is evidence from this simulation?
2. How should you test the effect of one control?
3. Why read the model notes?

Au

Gold

Z = 79
Protons
79
Electrons
79
Shells
2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 17 · 2
Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s1
Common oxidation states
1, 3
Phase near room conditions
solid

What this model shows — and what it simplifies

Educational Model

The nuclear charge stays fixed at 79 protons, which is what defines Gold.

Where do we see this in real life?

The electron count and measured properties of Gold help determine how it bonds, reacts and is identified in chemical materials.

Explain this result

Scientific review record

Building
Module version
v1 bundled
Published
Loading…
Last reviewed
Not yet verified
Academic level
Undergraduate
Reviewer
Not publicly assigned

Loading source metadata…

Review method · Report an error