Gold is weird. It's one of the few metals that doesnβt really oxidize. Even silver and copperβfrom the same column of the periodic tableβform weak oxides. Naively, you might expect that gold would tarnish just like silver. Gold also sits right next to platinum, but it has none of that metalβs catalytic properties.
Then came gold nanoparticles that acted like catalysts, and we were confused by their apparent willingness to take part in chemical reactions.
Now, a pair of scientists hasΒ explained that goldβs inertness isnβt inherent to the atom but rather to the surfaces that gold crystals form. Before we get to the results, letβs first take a look at the traditional explanation for goldβs inertness and why an inert material that has no catalytic activity suddenly acts as a catalyst when in its nanoparticle form.


Β© Kieran Stone