Gold mirrors appear yellow because relativistic effects alter electronic transitions absorbing blue light.
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 88/100
Relativistic effects significantly contract and stabilize gold's atomic orbitals, altering its electronic transitions so that it absorbs blue light and imparts its characteristic yellow appearance.
Evidence for · 3
Relativistic effects in properties of gold
2002 · cited by 150
Discusses the historical recognition that unusual chemical and physical properties of gold (the gold anomaly) stem from special relativity.
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More for · 2
Relativistic effects on the linear optical properties of Au, Pt, Pb and W
2010 · cited by 60
Demonstrates through first-principles calculations that relativistic terms are crucially important for explaining the absorption behavior and color of gold.
The role of relativity in the optical response of gold within the time-dependent current-density-functional theory.
2005 · cited by 52
Shows that relativistic effects shift the onset of interband transitions in gold, strongly influencing its color.