Iron and gold are some of the most common metals found on Earth. Both are widely used in various ways and domains. They have various differences, especially when it comes to their physical and chemical properties. Both of these metals have become an important and vital part of our lives.
Iron vs Gold
The main difference between iron and gold is that iron is silver in color and its atomic number is 26, whereas gold is yellow in color, and its atomic number is 79. Iron is usually found abundantly in the Earth’s inner and outer cores, and gold is found in metal ores or in alluvial deposits.
Iron, silver in color, has the periodic symbol ‘Fe”. Its atomic number is 26, and its standard atomic weight is 55.845 g mol. It is a very chemically active metal. It is cheaper when compared to gold and tends to be affordable. It can be found in Earth’s crust and core.
Gold, yellow in color, has the periodic symbol ‘Au”. The atomic number of gold is 79 and has 196.96 as the standard atomic weight. It is a chemically inactive metal. It is usually very expensive. It can be found in metal ores or in alluvial deposits.
Comparison Table Between Iron and Gold
| Parameters of Comparison | Iron | Gold |
| Color | Silver | Yellow |
| Periodic Symbol | Fe | Au |
| Atomic Number | 26 | 79 |
| Found in | The inner and outer core of Earth. | Ores of metal or in alluvial deposits. |
| Standard Atomic Weight | 55.845 g mol | 196.96 g mol |
| Boiling Point | 2862 degree Celsius | 2700 degree Celsius |
| Melting Point | 1538 degree Celsius | 1064.18 degree Celsius |
| Density | 7.87 grams per cubic centimeter | 19.03 grams per cubic centimeter |
| Chemical Activity | Chemically active | Chemically inactive |
| Cost | Cheaper | More expensive |
| Uses | In civil engineering and manufacturing. | Jewelry, art, decoration, ornaments, coinage, etc. |
What is Iron?
Iron (Fe) is a metal belonging to the first transition series and group 8 on the periodic table. It is a chemical element with the atomic number 26. It is also known as the most common element on Earth (32.1%).
It is found in the inner and outer cores of the Planet. It is called the fourth most prevalent element in the Earth’s crust. An adult human’s body has approximately 4 g of iron. Iron aids in oxygen transport and storage, vertebrate metabolism, and other processes.
It is also very chemically active and reacts with oxygen and water to produce hydrated iron oxides, also known as rust. There are four allotropes found of iron as of now. It has four stable isotopes.
Iron has a boiling temperature of 2862 degrees Celsius and a melting point of 1538 degrees Celsius. Iron has a density of 7.87 grams per cubic centimeter. It is also quite inexpensive in comparison to gold.
It is highly magnetic in nature. It is also known as the sixth abundant element in the entire universe. It is not malleable, nor is it that ductile.
Iron can be used in the manufacturing process of steel or in civil engineering. It is also used to make alloy steels like nickel, manganese, tungsten, etc. It is also used in vehicles, appliances, medical devices, utensils, etc.
What is Gold?
Gold (Au) is a transition metal that occurs in group 11 of the periodic table. It is a chemical element with the atomic number 79. It is bright yellow, with a slight tint of reddish-yellow, in color.
It is usually found in its free elemental form, occurring as nuggets or grains, in alluvial deposits and rocks. It can also occur as gold compounds like tellurium, but this form is found less commonly.
Gold is chemically inactive. This means that it is resistant to the majority of the acids. However, it does dissolve in aqua regia, which is a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acid. It can also dissolve in alkaline solutions and mercury.
Gold has a melting point of 1064.18 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of 2700 degrees Celsius. Its standard atomic weight is 196.96 g mol. It has a density of 19.03 grams per cubic centimeter. It is a very expensive metal since it is considered precious.
Gold is used in various things. As it is considered a precious metal, it can be used for jewelry, art, ornamental objects, decorations, etc. It is also used to make medals, money, awards like Oscars and Grammy, etc. It is also useful in electronics, space exploration, medicine, and dentistry, etc.
Main Differences Between Iron and Gold
- Iron’s periodic symbol is ‘Fe,’ and gold’s periodic symbol is ‘Au.’
- Iron has an atomic number of 26, while gold has an atomic number of 79.
- Iron is typically found in the Earth’s inner and outer cores, whereas gold is found in metal ores or alluvial deposits.
- Iron has a standard atomic weight of 55.845 g mol, while gold has a standard atomic weight of 196.96 g mol.
- Iron has a boiling point of 2862 degrees Celsius, while gold has a boiling temperature of 2700 degrees Celsius.
- Iron has a melting point of 1538 degrees Celsius, while gold has a melting point of 1064.18 degrees Celsius.
- Iron has a density of 7.87 grams per cubic centimeter, but gold has a density of 19.03 grams per cubic centimeter.
- Iron is very chemically active. On the other hand, gold is chemically inactive.
- Iron also tends to be cheaper, whereas gold is more on the expensive side.
- Iron can be used in civil engineering and manufacturing. Gold can be used in jewelry, decoration, ornaments, art, etc.
Conclusion
Both iron and gold are well-known elements. Iron is silver in color with 26 as its atomic number and 55.845 g mol as its atomic weight, whereas gold is yellow in color with 79 as its atomic number and 196.96 g mol as its atomic weight.
Another difference between the two is that iron is highly chemically active, whereas gold is not. This means that iron can very easily form rust and degrade, but gold won’t do that and can only be dissolved using the aqua regia solution.
References
- https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=FM-CDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=iron+and+gold&ots=8EW7-Fqn6o&sig=YK1Hk3_r_nTYEHsOIhExyobM50w&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=iron%20and%20gold&f=false
- https://www.jacc.org/doi/full/10.1016/j.jcmg.2008.05.001