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- About Us
Gold
Gold (Au) is a dense, soft, and highly malleable precious metal with a bright yellow luster. It is chemically inert and highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, making it ideal for long-lasting applications. With a melting point of 1064 °C and exceptional electrical conductivity, Gold plays a critical role in scientific and industrial innovation. It is most commonly sourced from natural ores and refined through smelting or chemical processes.
Goodfellow's high-purity Gold products are designed to meet the exacting requirements of advanced research and industrial applications. Available in various forms, gold is valued for its unique optical and electronic properties, including its surface plasmon resonance and excellent conductivity. Gold nanoparticles find critical applications in the biomedical field, electronics industry, and sensing technologies. They play a vital role in drug delivery systems, photothermal cancer therapies, and as components in high-performance electronic devices. In the realm of diagnostics, gold nanoparticles are instrumental in developing sensitive biosensors and lateral flow assays for rapid disease detection. Goodfellow's gold products support cutting-edge research in areas such as nanomedicine, catalysis, and next-generation optical technologies. Their distinctive properties make them indispensable for scientists and engineers advancing materials science, particularly in applications requiring precise optical characteristics and biocompatibility.
Properties
Identifiers
Isotopes
Applications
Grades
Synonyms
General Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 79 |
| Density | 19.32 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1064 °C |
| Boiling Point | 2856 °C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 318 W/m·K |
| Electrical Resistivity | 22.14 nΩ·m |
| Crystal Structure | Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 120–190 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 30–100 MPa |
| Young’s Modulus | 78 GPa |
| Hardness | Brinell 25–35 |
| Elongation at Break | 45–55% |
| Poisson’s Ratio | 0.44 |
Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent; inert in most environments |
| Reactivity | Unreactive with air and water; dissolves in aqua regia |
| Oxidation States | +1, +3 (common) |
| Surface Oxide | Forms gold oxides under specific conditions |
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Au |
| Atomic Number | 79 |
| CAS Number | 7440-57-5 |
| UN Number | N/A |
| EINECS Number | 231-165-9 |
| Isotope | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Au-197 | Stable | Only naturally occurring isotope (100%) |
Scientific Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Nanotechnology | Gold nanoparticles used in drug delivery and biosensing |
| Thin-Film Research | Gold used in sputtering targets for advanced coatings |
| Surface Science | Ideal substrate for scanning probe microscopy (e.g., STM, AFM) |
| Optoelectronics | Used in photonic devices and plasmonics research |
| Catalysis | Gold catalysts effective in low-temperature CO oxidation |
Industrial Applications
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Electronics | Used for high-reliability connectors, bond wires, and contacts |
| Semiconductor Manufacturing | Used in chip fabrication and microelectronics |
| Aerospace | Gold-coated films used for thermal shielding |
| Jewelry and Luxury Goods | Major use for ornamental and decorative applications |
| Medical Devices | Biocompatible and corrosion-resistant; used in implants and diagnostics |
| Purity | Description |
|---|---|
| 99.9% (3N) | High-purity gold suitable for industrial-grade electronics, basic research, and standard coating applications where minor impurities are acceptable. |
| 99.95% (3N5) | Enhanced-purity gold ideal for demanding electronic and optical applications, offering improved consistency and performance in microfabrication processes. |
| 99.99% (4N) | Ultra-pure gold commonly used in precision electronics, high-end optical coatings, and sputtering targets where low impurity content is critical. |
| 99.999% (5N) | Research-grade gold used in advanced semiconductor processes, high-vacuum systems, and nanotechnology where maximum purity is essential for reproducibility and stability. |
| Synonym |
|---|
| Gold metal |
| Elemental Gold |
| Element 79 |
| Aurum (Latin) |
| Or (French) |
| Oro (Spanish) |