The valency of gold is 1.
Understanding Gold's Valency
Valency is a measure of the combining power of an element, typically determined by the number of electrons an atom gains, loses, or shares to form a chemical bond. For gold (Au), its valency is directly linked to its electronic configuration, specifically the electrons in its outermost shell.
Deriving Gold's Valency from its Electronic Structure
Based on its atomic structure, gold exhibits a primary valency of 1. This can be understood by examining its electron distribution:
As we can see that the valence shell of the gold atom is 6 and there is 1 electron in this valence shell, so it can lose this electron to form a +1 oxidation state, therefore, having a valency 1.
This process can be summarized as follows:
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Valence Shell of Gold | The outermost electron shell is the 6th |
| Electrons in Valence Shell | There is 1 electron in this valence shell |
| Electron Behavior | Gold can lose this electron |
| Resulting Oxidation State | This leads to a +1 oxidation state |
| Determined Valency | Consequently, gold has a valency of 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Gold's most common and fundamental valency is 1.
- This valency arises from its tendency to lose the single electron located in its outermost (6th) valence shell to achieve a more stable electronic configuration.
