What is the physical property of gold?
Gold is a dense, shiny yellow metal. (10/100)
Gold has been highly valued throughout human history for its beautiful color and durability. Some key physical properties of gold include:
- Density – Gold is extremely dense, with a density of 19.3 g/cm3. This makes it very heavy for its volume.
- Color – The characteristic yellow color of gold comes from the electronic structure of the gold atoms. Gold strongly absorbs blue light.
- Luster – Gold has a strong metallic luster and shine. When polished, gold can achieve a very high reflectivity of visible light.
- Malleability – Gold is very malleable, meaning it can be hammered into extremely thin sheets. Just one gram of gold can be beaten into a sheet over 1 square meter in area.
- Ductility – Gold is also very ductile, meaning it can be drawn out into thin wires without becoming brittle and breaking.
Some other notable properties of gold include its resistance to corrosion and most acids, its high thermal and electrical conductivity, and its lack of toxicity. These properties, along with its beauty, rarity, and symbolism, are what make gold such a universally valued metal.