How many protons does an element need to be gold?

An atom is gold only if its nucleus contains 79 protons. That proton count is called the atomic number, and it cannot change without turning the atom into a different element. Gold’s symbol, Au, comes from the Latin word aurum. In nature, gold is often found as a native metal rather than in compounds, which is one reason it has been prized for thousands of years. Scientists can create tiny amounts of gold artificially in nuclear reactions, but it is not economical for ordinary use.