Amorphous AuxOy compounds have been produced under standard temperature and pressure but decomposed to metallic gold. A review of the literature indicated a scarcity of research on the reactivity of Au with oxygen. Discussion A. General Of all the metals, gold, chemical symbol Au, has the lowest tendency to react with air to form oxides. Gold is termed a noble metal and is stable in the presence of water and moist or dry air, even when heated. 4f14 5d10 6s1 and belongs to group 1B of the periodic table along with copper and silver.
Gold oxides are unstable compounds and are usually formed by indirect methods.
AuOH dissolves in excess alkali to form aurates, i.e. The distorted geometry occurs as a result of d8 orbital splotting, the Jahn-Teller effect. Despite its observed geometry, Au2O3 and other AuxOy compounds exist in an amorphous state. Attempts were made to crystallize Au2O3 by heating the amorphous powder in air but the oxide decomposed into metallic Au. The tendency for Au to react with oxygen is indicated by the free energy change accompanying the formation of its oxide.