Gold(II) sulfate


Gold sulfate is the chemical compound with the formula or more correctly. This compound was previously thought to be a mixed-valent compound like AuIAuIII2, but it was later shown that it contained the diatomic cation, making it one of the first known examples of an inorganic gold compound. The bond distance between the gold atoms in the diatomic cation is 249 pm.

Production and properties

Gold sulfate is produced by reaction of sulfuric acid and gold(III) hydroxide. Gold sulfate is unstable in air and oxidizes to hydrogen disulfoaurate(III).