Gold
Gold*is a*chemical element*with the*symbol*Au*(from*Latin:*aurum) and*atomic number*79, making it one of the highest*atomic number*elements that occur naturally. In its purest form, it is a*bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft,*malleable, and*ductile*metal. Chemically, gold is a*transition metal*and a*group 11 element. It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under*standard conditions. Gold often occurs in free elemental (native) form, as*nuggets*or grains, in*rocks, in*veins, and in*alluvial deposits. It occurs in a*solid solution*series with the native element*silver*(as*electrum) and also naturally*alloyed*with*copper*and*palladium. Less commonly, it occurs in minerals as gold compounds, often with*tellurium*(gold tellurides).