Az arany a természetben elemi állapotban előforduló, a történelem kezdetei óta ismert, jellegzetesen sárga nemesfém, a periódusos rendszer 79.
A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia