From ancient coins to modern markets, gold has shaped money for centuries. Its physical properties help explain why it continues to hold a unique place in finance.

Gold is the 79th element on the Periodic Table of the Elements. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The periodic table lists 118 different chemical elements. And yet, for thousands of years, humans have really, really liked one of them in particular: gold. Gold has been used as money for millennia, ...

Editor's note: The following is a text-only version. The complete version with artwork is available for purchase here (PDF). The periodic table of the elements is one of the most powerful icons in ...

Note: This video is designed to help the teacher better understand the lesson and is NOT intended to be shown to students. It includes observations and conclusions that students are meant to make on ...