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Gold (pronounced /'go?ld/) is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal, having been used as money, as a store of value, in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, in veins and in alluvial deposits. Gold is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable and ductile substance known. Pure gold has a bright yellow color traditionally considered attractive. It is one of the coinage metals and formed the basis for the gold standard used before the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971. The ISO currency code of gold bullion is XAU.

Modern industrial uses include dentistry and electronics, where gold has traditionally found use because of its good resistance to oxidative corrosion. Chemically, gold is a transition metal and can form trivalent and univalent cations upon solvation. At STP it is attacked by aqua regia, forming chloroauric acid and by alkaline solutions of cyanide but not by hydrochloric, nitric or sulphuric acids. Gold dissolves in mercury, forming amalgam alloys, but does not react with it. Gold is insoluble in nitric acid, which will dissolve silver and base metals, and is the basis of the gold refining technique known as "inquartation and parting". Nitric acid has long been used to confirm the presence of gold in items, and this is the origin of the colloquial term "acid test", referring to a gold standard test for genuine value.

Gold is the most malleable and ductile of all metals; a single gram can be beaten into a sheet of one square meter, or an ounce into 300 square feet. Gold leaf can be beaten thin enough to become translucent. The transmitted light appears greenish blue, because gold strongly reflects yellow and red.

Gold readily creates alloys with many other metals. These alloys can be produced to increase the hardness or to create exotic colors (see below). Gold is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and is not affected by air and most reagents. Heat, moisture, oxygen, and most corrosive agents have very little chemical effect on gold, making it well-suited for use in coins and jewelry; conversely, halogens will chemically alter gold, and aqua regia dissolves it via formation of the chloraurate ion.

Gold Subcategories Gold Articles Hen's night gold coast- the way to join the Australia's best gold cost party by jessica thomson Dec 30, 2008 Australia has now become very desirable as a destination for a hodgepodge of activates. Typically tourists are interested in the day spa gold coast amenities obtainable in Australia. Even, the wine tour... Gold Diamond Jewelry - What You Need To Know About Gold by Dan Wright Dec 23, 2008 Gold diamond jewelry has been a special gift that can bring joy for a lifetime to both men and women for centuries. Men and women have adorned themselves with jewelry in general to represent social or official rank, age and marital status. Gold diamo... Jewelry - Special gift that can bring joy for a lifetime by stephen peter Dec 12, 2008 Jewelers Point designs and produces quality Sterling silver jewelry. Our designs are sophisticated and fashioning; ranging from the fun, fab and downright funky to the cool chic and classic. Often intermingling semi-precious stones, crystals, cut gla... Precious Metal by Wedding Star Oct 30, 2008 Choosing a color for your wedding sets the tone for all the accessories and favors to follow. If you are looking for a classic look that won't seem dated years from now when you look back, choose colors that will stand the test of time in the form of... San Francisco's New Golden Gem In Golden Gate Park by Dale Montz Sep 30, 2008 Yes, there is a new gem in San Francisco, another reason to leave your heart in this "Golden" city. The name of this gem is California Academy of Science and it is a very good reason to pack your pages and head to this city of cities. Califo... Sightseeing for Free in New York and San Francisco by Dale Montz Sep 24, 2008 With our vacation dollars being stretched and still wanting to visit the hot spots here in the United States, we need to get creative. New York is a bustling city with much to see and do; and most of it is very expensive. The good news is that ther... MillionaireLoving.com makes offer for a life-time free gold membership to Jennifer Aniston! by millionaire match May 15, 2008 Jennifer Aniston is an A-list celebrity who has been romantically linked to Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, and John Mayer.* *Many people can remember trying to choose sides when Aniston & Pitt's marriage ended, and he had begun a romantic relationship ... Finding Mens Gold Wedding Rings by Jonathan Blocker Apr 16, 2008 Finding mens gold wedding rings. The New Varieties of Diamond Wedding Rings There was a time – not very long ago – when diamond wedding rings Ladies Watches found online by Jonathan Blocker Apr 13, 2008 Ladies watches found online Jewelry gifts are appropriate for many different occasions; some, like designer watches, make excellent all-or-any occasion gifts, whereas... HOW TO BUY UNIQUE WEDDING BANDS? PLATINUM OR GOLD OR TITANIUM by Sanjeev Prakash Apr 07, 2008 wedding bands in platinum, 14K Gold White Yellow Gold, 18K Gold White Yellow Gold, Titanium & Silver. We also craft bands in platinum and 18k yellow gold and 24k yellow gold combinations. Wedding Band Style: Tradional or Unique Designer? We ...