Gold
Real Metals · Rare · Timeless
The most universally valued metal in human history. Gold's imperviousness to corrosion, its beauty, and its rarity have made it the foundation of monetary systems, religious iconography, and expressions of power across every civilization that has ever existed.
Identity
- Symbol
- Au
- Atomic number
- 79
- Source
- Natural element
- Used in
- Electrum, Rose Gold, White Gold
- Aliases
- Aurum, Au
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Brilliant yellow-gold, does not tarnish or corrode under any natural conditions
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 19.32 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1064 °C
- Boiling point
- 2856 °C
- Lighter
- Tungsten
- Denser
- Platinum
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Very High
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Tensile strength
- 120 MPa
- Softer
- Tin
- Harder
- Brass
- Workability
- Easy
- Brittleness
- Tough
- Malleability
- Very High
- Ductility
- Very High
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- absolute
- Reactivity
- very low
Lore & Narrative
Every gram of gold on Earth was formed in neutron star collisions billions of years before the solar system existed, then delivered here by asteroid impacts. The gold in your hands is older than the planet itself.
- Notable uses
- Currency, jewelry, electronics, dentistry, religious artifacts
- Forge uses
- jewelry, coinage, religious artifacts, electronics
- Worldbuilding traits
- incorruptible, valuable, soft, Ancient
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