Gold is considered a heavy metal.
Gold's classification as a heavy metal stems from its exceptionally high density. Density is a measure of mass per unit volume, and gold packs a significant amount of mass into a small space. This high density is a direct consequence of the individual gold atoms being quite heavy themselves.
Here's a breakdown:
- High Density: Gold's density is approximately 19.3 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). In comparison, the density of water is only 1 g/cm³. This means that a cubic centimeter of gold is more than 19 times heavier than a cubic centimeter of water.
- Atomic Mass: The high atomic mass of gold contributes significantly to its density. Each gold atom contains a large number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus, making it a relatively heavy atom compared to elements with lower atomic numbers.
- Example: To illustrate, imagine holding a small gold brick and a small aluminum brick of the same size. The gold brick would feel significantly heavier due to its higher density.
While tungsten also has a high density very close to gold's, the key difference is in their atomic structure and bonding. Tungsten is hard and brittle, whereas gold is relatively soft and malleable.
Therefore, due to its high density resulting from heavy individual atoms, gold is definitively classified as a heavy metal.
