Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for preparing alkali metal gold cyanide which has been found to be particularly useful in gold electroplating operations in the semiconductor industry in order to provide electrical contacts to semiconductor devices. In the process, finely divided gold metal particles are reacted with hydrogen peroxide and alkali metal cyanide to produce univalent alkali metal gold cyanide. The alkali metal gold cyanide is then acidified with a mineral acid in order to precipitate out gold cyanide. The gold cyanide is subsequently removed by filtration, washed and redissolved in a solution of alkali metal cyanide thereby yielding the final alkali metal gold cyanide end product in its pure state.