Golds

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79. It is one of the first metals known to humanity and is renowned for its luster, workability, and resistance to corrosion. In its pure form it is a bright, slightly reddish yellow metal. Gold is a dense, malleable, and ductile metal; a small nugget can be drawn into extremely fine wire.

Gold is a noble metal and has one natural isotope, Au-197; many other isotopes have been produced synthetically. It is relatively unreactive, not reacting with air under standard conditions, which gives it its characteristic resistance to tarnish.

Gold occurs in nature in native form in placers and veins; major occurrences are mined from hard rock deposits and alluvial deposits. The world's largest producers include China, Australia, Russia, the United States, and Canada; South Africa historically supplied large quantities from the Witwatersrand basin. Gold is refined by smelting and, more commonly, by cyanidation or other chemical processes to produce pure gold.

Uses: The metal has long served as a medium of exchange and store of value; it remains a standard for bullion and reserve asset today. It has extensive industrial applications because of its excellent electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion; it is used in electronics, dentistry, medicine, and as a catalyst in some chemical reactions. Gold leaf and gilding are common decorative applications; alloys such as electrum (gold-silver) have also been used.

Etymology: The name gold derives from Old English gold; symbol Au from Latin aurum. In finance and everyday language, 'gold' is typically used as a mass noun, while 'Golds' is not a standard term for the element.