On the periodic table, the chemical symbol Au represents gold. The symbol comes from the Latin word aurum, meaning “gold” or “shining dawn,” rather than from the English name.
Gold is a dense, soft, yellow metal valued for its resistance to corrosion. It is element 79 and belongs to group 11, alongside copper and silver. In its pure form, gold is relatively malleable, so it is often alloyed with other metals for jewelry and practical objects.
Gold has been used by human societies for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian objects made of gold date back to the fourth millennium BCE, and the metal became important in coinage because it is durable, divisible, and difficult to obtain.
A common mix-up is assuming that chemical symbols always resemble English names. Several symbols preserve older names: Au comes from Latin aurum, Ag from argentum for silver, and Fe from ferrum for iron.