Question

What is atomic number of gold?

Answer 1

For `Au`, `Z=79`

Explanation:

What does this mean? It means that in the gold nucleus there are 79 protons, 79 positively charged, massive particles. If there were a different number then the element would NOT be gold, because the atomic number defines elemental indentity: `Z=1`, `H`; `Z=2`, `He`; ..........`Z=78`, `Pt`, `Z=79`, `Au`