Which element has the chemical symbol Au?

The element with the chemical symbol Au is gold. The symbol comes from the Latin word aurum, meaning “gold” or “shining dawn,” rather than from the English name.

Gold is a chemical element with atomic number 79. It is a dense, soft, yellow metal that resists corrosion and tarnishing. These properties, along with its rarity and workability, have made it valuable for jewellery, decoration and coinage across many cultures.

Gold is also important in modern technology. It conducts electricity reliably and resists oxidation, so small quantities are used in electronic contacts, connectors and specialized equipment. Medical and dental applications have also used gold and its compounds.

Gold is often confused with the symbol Ag, which represents silver, or Cu, which represents copper. The periodic-table abbreviation Au preserves the ancient Latin name. Most naturally occurring gold is found as the isotope gold-197, which is stable; radioactive gold isotopes are produced artificially or through nuclear processes.