Gold, with the chemical symbol Au, has an atomic number of 79. This means that it has 79 protons in its nucleus. The most common isotope of gold is Gold-197, which has a mass number of 197. The number of neutrons in an atom can be calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number.
So, in the case of Gold-197, the number of neutrons can be calculated as follows:
Number of Neutrons = Mass Number – Atomic Number
Number of Neutrons = 197 – 79 = 118
Therefore, gold typically has 118 neutrons in its nucleus. This composition is what gives gold its unique properties and stability as an element.