Gold is a rare, odd-numbered atom with 79 protons. Common atoms have an even number of protons.Here is something for science buffs. Where did gold come from?
Robert Krulwich of NPR asks this question apropos Valentine's Day and receives a long answer.
Ever since taking earth science courses in college I have been fascinated by the fusion processes in distant stars that produce different elements. This gold story explains why gold is so rare, as rare as a good education.
1 comment:
"[C]ommon atoms hav an even number of protons"
Uh...wrong. Very wrong.
Hydrogen has 1. He has 2. Li has 3. it goes beck and forth like that all the way down the Periodic Table.
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