Why Is Gold Yellow?

I had a curious young gentleman with the age of 6 in my office the other day.  He had a series of questions that begun on his entry and continued through his mother finishing sell gold, gold jewelry and silver coins until the bright young man walked out the door.  The most interesting question he had was, “Why is gold yellow?”

I know, I know, there is white gold but the boy was correct in his question.  My first response is to answer your thought, “There is white gold.”  Well let me say that the white gold and the yellow gold are the SAME element.  It exists in its own state as yellow and only becomes white when we mix it with higher quantities of nickel and aluminum. 

To answer his question on an elemental level and in a simplified manor, the atom has neutrons and protons in its’ center.  Electrons travel around the atom on the outside perimeter.  It is the electrons that provide the surface unto which we see and touch.  These electrons travel in “valence bands.”  The closer these bands the less light it absorbs.  In gold they are very close and only blue light can pass through them causing the opposite light to be reflected.  It’s the reflected light that we see. The opposite color of blue is yellow and that is the color everyone sees.

Who can tell me what the atomic symbol for platinum is?  Bet you can't without looking it up.

Kevin Robbins, Gold Solutions http://www.goldsolutionsoffortmyers.com/contact.html#.USTuKFojpws

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