Is gold hard or soft?
Gold is relatively soft
On the Mohs hardness scale, which ranks mineral hardness, gold has a hardness rating of 2.5-3. For comparison:
- Talc has a rating of 1 (very soft)
- Silver and copper have a rating of 2.5-3
- Quartz is 7
- Diamond is 10 (extremely hard)
So with a Mohs hardness of 2.5-3, gold is considered a relatively soft metal. It is soft enough to bite into and leave a visible teeth impression. Gold can be scratched by a sharp steel knife. The softness allows gold to be pounded into thin sheets (gold leaf) or drawn into thin wires.
Gold’s softness is one reason it is often alloyed with other metals like copper, silver, or palladium. These alloys increase the hardness and durability of gold while retaining its beauty and resistance to corrosion and most acids.
So in its pure form, gold is a soft, dense, and malleable metal. This explains some of its value—the softness allows gold to be easily worked into jewelry, decorative objects, coins, and more.