Monohalides

AuCl, AuBr

Gold(I) bromide

Gold bromide can be formed by synthesis from the elements or partial decomposition of gold bromide by careful control of temperatures and pressures. It occurs in two modifications. One is isostructural with gold chloride and has a body centered tetragonal unit cell with a=6.734A and c=8.674A and...

, and AuI are all crystalline solids with a structure containing alternating linear chains: ..-X-Au-X-Au-X-Au-X-... The X-Au-X angle is 180°.

The monomeric AuF molecule has been detected in the gas phase.

Trihalides

The triiodide does not exist. AuCl₃

Gold(III) chloride

Gold chloride, traditionally called auric chloride, is a chemical compound of gold and chlorine. With the molecular formula Au2Cl6, the name gold trichloride is a simplification, referring to the empirical formula. The Roman numerals in the name indicate that the gold has an oxidation state of +3,...

 readily forms out of the elements at temperatures below 254 °C. It is a volatile red solid. The volatile species is the dimer Au₂Cl₆.. Likewise, AuBr₃

Gold(III) bromide

Gold bromide is a dark-red to black crystalline solid. It has the empirical formula AuBr3, but exists primarily as a dimer with the molecular formula Au2Br6 in which two gold atoms are bridged by two bromine atoms. It is commonly referred to as gold bromide, gold tribromide, and rarely but...

 can be formed from the elements and exists primarily as the dimer Au₂Br₆.

Gold(III) fluoride

Gold(III) fluoride

Gold fluoride, , is an orange solid that sublimes at 300 °C. It is a powerful fluorinating agent.- Preparation :AuF3 can be prepared by reacting AuCl3 with F2 or BrF3.- Structure :...

, AuF₃, has a unique polymeric helical structure, containing corner-sharing {AuF₄} squares.

Pentahalides

Gold(V) fluoride

Gold(V) fluoride

Gold fluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula Au2F10. This fluoride compound features gold in its highest known oxidation state. This red solid dissolves in hydrogen fluoride but these solutions decompose, liberating fluorine....

, AuF₅, is the only known example of gold in the +5 oxidation state

Oxidation state

In chemistry, the oxidation state is an indicator of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound. The formal oxidation state is the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic. Oxidation states are typically represented by...

. It most commonly occurs as the dimer Au₂F₁₀.