3500-Au

Gold

Approved by Standard Methods Committee, 2001. Editorial revisions, 2011 and 2020. Joint Task Group: 20th Edition—Brian J. Condike (chair), Deanna K. Anderson,
Anthony Bright, Richard A. Cahill, Alois F. Clary, C. Ellen Gonter, Peter M. Grohse, Daniel C. Hillman, Albert C. Holler, Amy Hughes, J. Charles Jennett, Roger A. Minear,
Marlene O. Moore, Gregg L. Oelker, S. Kusum Perera, James G. Poff, Jeffrey G. Skousen, Michael D. Wichman, John L. Wuepper.

Gold (Au) is the third element in Group IB in the periodic table.
It has an atomic number of 79, an atomic weight of 196.97, and
valences of 1 and 3. The average abundance of Au in the earth’s
crust is 0.004 ppm; in streams it is 2 µg/L; and in groundwater
it is <0.1 mg/L. Gold occurs in its native form, and is associated
with quartz or pyrite. The main uses of gold are in jewelry, den-
tistry, electronics, and the aerospace industry.
Gold solubility is restricted to acidic waters in the presence
of oxidizing agents and chloride, or in alkaline solutions in the
presence of hydrogen sulfide. Its solubility may be influenced by
natural organic acids. Compounds of gold containing thiosulfate
and cyanide have some human toxicity.
Perform analyses by the atomic absorption spectrometric
method (Section 3111 B) or by the electrothermal atomic absorp-
tion method (Section 3113 B). The inductively coupled plasma
mass spectrometric method (Section 3125) also may be applied
successfully in most cases (with lower detection levels), even
though gold is not specifically listed as an analyte in the method.

Published Online: August 27, 2018

Revised: July 1, 2020
https://doi.org/10.2105/SMWW.2882.232 1