WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements | Gold

Chemical reactions of the elements

Reaction of gold with air

Gold metal is stable in air under normal conditions. However gold does dissolve in aqueous cyanide solutions in the presence of air.

Reaction of gold with water

Gold does not react with water.

Reaction of gold with the halogens

Gold metal reacts with chlorine, Cl₂, or bromine, Br₂, to form the trihalides gold(III) chloride, AuCl₃, or gold(III) bromide, AuBr₃, respectively. On the other hand, gold metal reacts with iodine, I₂, to form the monohalide gold(I) chloride, AuI.

2Au(s) + 3Cl₂(g) → 2AuCl₃(s)

2Au(s) + 3Br₂(g) → 2AuBr₃(s)

2Au(s) + I₂(g) → 2AuI(s)

Solutions of chlorine, Cl₂, and trimethylammonium chloride, [NHMe₃]Cl, in acetonitrile, MeCN, dissolve gold.

Reaction of gold with acids

Gold metal dissolves in aqua regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid, HCl, and concentrated nitric acid, HNO₃, in a 3:1 ratio. The name aqua regia was coined by alchemists because of its ability to dissolve gold - the "king of metals".

Reaction of gold with bases

Gold does not react with aqueous bases.

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Gold
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