Gold is element number 79, a metal with the symbol Au. It has been known since ancient times, and in 2024 Japan’s Sado Island Gold Mines became a World Heritage Site.
Atomic number 79197.0
AuGold金 (kin)
Symbol
Au
Atomic weight
197.0
Place in the table
Period 6 · Group 11
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
Au is Latin for gold
The symbol Au comes from aurum, Latin for gold, which looks nothing like the English word.
Gold is in Group 11 of the periodic table with silver and copper. Gold, silver and copper line up in a single column.
The Sado Island Gold Mines
On 27 July 2024, the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in New Delhi, India, decided to inscribe the Sado Island Gold Mines in Niigata Prefecture on the World Heritage List.
Together with Iwami Ginzan in Shimane (2007), this means Japan has World Heritage Sites for both a gold mine and a silver mine.
Think about it
Q1Why do you think gold has been treasured since ancient times?
Q2Gold, silver and copper are in the same column. What do you think about that?
Q3What kinds of tools do you think gold miners used?
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) all have symbols from Latin. All of them are metals people have used since ancient times.