Gold is a metal.
Gold . In its purest form , it is a bright , slightly reddish yellow , dense , soft , malleable , and ductile metal . Chemically , gold is a transition metal and a group 11 element . As a precious metal , gold has been used for coinage , jewelry , and other arts throughout recorded history . A precious metal is a rare , naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value . The best known precious metals are the coinage metals , gold and silver .