Properties of Gold (Au)

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol (Au) and atomic number 79. It is a dense, soft, yellow metal that has been highly valued throughout human history. Gold is known for its luster, malleability, and conductivity, making it useful in various applications, including jewelry, currency, and electronics.

The following table provides a comprehensive list of gold (Au) properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

Click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.

Table of Gold Properties
Physical Properties
Metric
Crystal StructureFace-centered cubic (fcc)
Atomic Number79
Molar Mass196.966 g/mol
Density19320 kg/m3
Mechanical PropertiesMetric
Young’s Modulus (E)78.5 GPa
Shear Modulus (G)26 GPa
Bulk Modulus (K)177.6 GPa
Poisson’s Ratio (ν)0.42
Mohs Hardness2.5
Thermal PropertiesMetric
Melting Point1064.18 °C
Boiling Point2857 °C
Thermal Conductivity (27°C)317 W/m·K
Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) (25°C)129 J/kg·K
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αL) (25°C)1.42×10-5 1/°C
Electrical PropertiesMetric
Electrical Resistivity2.255×10-6 Ω·cm

Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009.