Gold
Atomic number 79 means that every Gold nucleus contains 79 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Gold.
Start with the nucleus
Atomic number 79 means that every Gold nucleus contains 79 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Gold.
Gold (Au) is chemical element 79. It belongs to the transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.
In practice, it turns up most often in jewellery, electronics and space technology.
See the atom
Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.
What this number means
Atomic number 79 means that every Gold nucleus contains 79 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Gold.