Question

What is the valency of gold?

Answer 1

Hint: We have to know that the valency is the number of unpaired electrons present in an outermost orbital of an atom present in the element. And by using valency we can explain the reacting capacity of an atom with the other atom. And we can depict the property of an element by using the valency. And the valency does not contain any positive or negative sign.

Complete answer:
We have to know that gold is a chemical element having the atomic number \[79\] with the symbol, $'Au'$. It is slightly reddish yellow in colour at the pure form. And gold is a transition element and it is metallic in nature. The electronic configuration of gold can be written as, \[\left[ {Xe} \right]4{f^{14}}5{d^{10}}6{s^1}\] here, the five – d orbital is completely filled. And the maximum number of electrons occupied in s – orbital is equal to two. But here, the number of electrons present in the s – orbital is equal to one. Which means, one is unpaired. Hence, the valency of gold is equal to one or three. And it has the highest electronegativity which is equal to \[2.54\] and the oxidation state of gold is equal to \[ - 1, + 2\] and \[ + 5\].

Note: We need to know that the number of unpaired electrons present in the outermost shell is known as valency. Consider the case of oxygen. The electronic configuration of oxygen is, \[1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^4}\]. Here, the outermost orbital contains six electrons and \[2s\] orbital is completely filled. The maximum electron contained in p – orbital is equal to six. But here the p orbital contains only four electrons. Two are unpaired. Therefore the valency of oxygen is equal to two.