CHAPTER 2

Physical and Chemical

Properties of Gold

Physical Properties of Gold

Gold is a soft yellow metal, with the highest ductility and malleability of
any metal. Gold crystallizes in the cubic system, although crystals of gold
are very rare (it is usually found as irregular plates or grains). Gold has
high thermal and electrical conductivities. The only natural isotope of gold
is ' 7Au; however, 19 isotopes—ranging from I85Au to 20 Au—have beeti
produced artificially. Those isotopes are radioactive, with half-lives rang-
ing from a few seconds to 199 days (see Table 2-1).
Pure gold and many gold alloys are nonmagnetic. An alloy of gold and
manganese is somewhat magnetic, and alloys of gold with iron, nickel, or
cobalt are ferromagnetic.
The equilibria of numerous binary gold alloys are described by Hansen
and Anderko (1958). Except for white golds (Au-Ag), the carat golds, used
mainly in jewelry, are alloys of gold, silver, and copper. The carat is used to
express the proportion of gold contained: 24 carats are pure gold, 18 carats
are 75% gold, and so on.
Gold forms alloys with a number of metals (see Table 2-2). Mercury
wets gold particles, forming amalgams, and it is used in gold extraction
operations to selectively remove gold from ground ores. Gold has a very
low solubility(0.13%) in mercury. Mercury forms a solid solution with gold
up to about 169c Hg. Larger contents of mercury form intermetallic com-
pounds like Au3Hg and Au2Hg. Molten lead is a good solvent for gold, and
is used as such in fire assay and in some secondary smelting operations.

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12 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF GOLD

TABLE 2-1. The isotopes of gold.

Wass No.• half life Mode of'decal
177 1.35 sec
178 2.65 sec
179 7.25 sec
181 11.55 sec ‹x, EC
183 45.5 sec
185 4.3 min
186 12 min
187 8 min n, EC
188 8 min EC, 9
189 29.7 min EC, 9
189m 4.7 min EC, q
190 39 min EC, 9
191 3.2 hr EC, j
192 5.0 hr EC, p + , y
193m 3.9 sec 7
193 17.5 hr EC,j
194 39.5 hr EC,p+,y
195m 31.0 sec M+.v
195 183 day EC,y
196m 9.7 hr ]
196 6.2 day EC, d, j
197m 7.5 sec
197 stable
198 2.70 day
199 3.15 day
200 48.4 min
201 26 min
202 30 sec
203 55 sec
204 4.05 sec
km = metastable.
b‹x = alpha emission, EC = electron capture, J3 + = position emission,
g = beta particle emission, = gamma radiation.
Reprinted by permission. R.J. Puddephatt, The Chemistry of Gold. Elsevier Science Pub-
lishers, Physical Science and Engineering Division (New York), 1978, p. 8. (Originally pub-
lished in L. Myerscough, Gold Bull., (6): 62, 1973.)

Chemical Properties of Gold

Gold is the most inert, or the noblest, of the metallic elements. It exhibits
great stability and resistance to corrosion. Simple mineral acids, with the
exception of selenic acid, do not dissolve gold. Hydrochloric acid in the
presence of oxidants (such as nitric acid, oxygen, cupric or ferric ions, and
manganese dioxide) dissolves gold. The combination of hydrochloric and
nitric acids, aqua regia, vigorously attacks gold.
An + 4HCl + HNOL --+ H[AuCl4] + 2H2 + NO