Difference Between Iron and Gold

Iron vs Gold

Iron and gold are metals that has been in use for a very long time. Both these metals have been a part of every day life. Gold is the much sought after metal in this world for making jewelery, coinage and other things. Iron and gold have their own characteristic difference. They are different in their chemical as well as physical properties. They differ in their atomic weight, molecular mass and atomic numbers.

While fresh iron comes in silver color, gold comes in yellow color. Iron is found on the earth’s crust and core and is mostly found in oxides like hematite, taconite and magnetite. On the other hand gold appears as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits.

One of the main differences that can be noticed between iron and gold is that the former metal rusts and the other one does not. Iron when in contact with the atmosphere forms a red ferric oxide coating on the surface, which is known as rust.

Coming to the atomic number, Gold has an atomic number of 79 and Iron 26. Gold also has a higher atomic weight than Iron. While the Atomic Weight of gold comes to 196.9665 g mol, iron has an atomic weight of 55.845 g mol. When Iron has a boiling point of 2750 degree Celsius, the boiling point of Gold is just 2000 degrees. Even in melting point, iron tops among the two. Gold comes with a 1062 degrees melting point whereas Iron has a melting point of 1535 degrees.

Another physical difference that can be seen is that Iron is magnetic and Gold is nonmagnetic.

When compared to Iron, gold is chemically inactive. In malleability and ductility, gold has an upper hand than Iron. A small gram of Gold can be beaten into a sheet of one square meter. Well, gold is more expensive than Iron.

Summary

1. Unlike Iron, Gold is costly.

2. While fresh iron comes in silver color, gold comes in yellow color.

3. Iron is found on the earth’s crust and core and is mostly found in oxides like hematite, taconite and magnetite. On the other hand gold appears as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits.

4. Iron rusts whereas gold does not.

5. Iron is magnetic and Gold is nonmagnetic.

6. Iron and gold also differs in their atomic mass, atomic weight, melting point, boiling point and ductility.

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