Question

Question #a0b94

Answer 1

There is one valence electron in an atom of gold.

The electron configuration is :

`[Xe]4f^(14)5d^(10)6s^1`

Where `[Xe]` is the configuration of xenon.

The electron in the highest energy level is a 6s electron. This is the valence electron.

Gold forms the Au(I) state though this is unstable and disproportionates to Au(III) and Au(0):

`3Au^+rarrAu^(3+)+2Au`