Why is gold golden in colour?

[dishku]

Main Question or Discussion Point

Gold being a very good conductor should reflect almost all light incident on it and should be appearing white or at least gray. then why is it golden.....?????
pls do reply a detailed answer

 

[Ben Niehoff]

It has to do with relativistic corrections. Since gold is such a large atom, its electrons are moving very fast (effectively).

 

[alxm]

Specifically a transition to the p-orbital/band which is in the ultraviolet in Ag is shifted down into the blue in gold, giving it absorption in the blue range, hence a yellowish color, since that's the complementary color to blue.