Why Is Gold Au: Did You Know?

Watch and listen to learn about the origin of the symbol for gold “Au,” why the atomic number for gold is 79, and where the word gold comes from.

Where the Chemical Symbol AU Comes From: Did You Know? – Video Transcription

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Narrator: 00:16 Gold is a chemical element with the atomic number 79 on the periodic table. It has one of the highest atomic numbers of any element that occurs naturally. An atomic number measures the number of protons contained in the nucleus of each atom comprising an element. The higher an element's atomic number, the heavier it will be. This is why gold is so dense and heavy. Gold is one of the least reactive and most solid chemical elements. It is also the most malleable of all metals. In fact, a single ounce of gold could be compressed into a thin sheet that would span a total of 300 square feet. When formed into a monotonic wire, it can be stretched about twice before it would break, making it optimal for microelectronics and other applications. Gold's chemical symbol AU is derived from the Latin word aurum, meaning gold. Some claim that the word aurum also means shining dawn due to its etymological ties to the word aurora, meaning dawn. The word gold comes from the old English word for yellow, geolu, which was derived from the Germanic word gulþa. Today, gold is everywhere, and in many of the devices we use on a daily basis. Whether you're looking to diversify your portfolio or secure your assets for future generations, U.S. Money Reserve is here to make gold buying easy. Call the number on your screen if you'd like to learn more about gold and other precious metals.
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