Gold halides are compounds of gold with the .
Monohalides
AuCl, AuBr, 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 less than 180°.
The monomeric AuF molecule has been detected in the gas phase.
Trihalides
Gold triiodide does not exist or is unstable.
Gold(III) fluoride, AuF3, has a unique polymeric helical structure, containing corner-sharing {AuF4} squares.
Pentahalides
Gold(V) fluoride, AuF
5, is the only known example of gold in the +5
oxidation state. It most commonly occurs as the dimer Au
2F
10.
