The origin of long interatomic distances in suspended gold atomic chains formed from stretched nanowires remains the object of debate despite the large amount of theoretical and experimental work. Here, we report new atomic resolution electron microscopy observations acquired at room and liquid-nitrogen temperatures and theoretical results from ab initio quantum molecular dynamics on chain formation and stability. These new data are suggestive that the long distances are due to contamination by carbon atoms originating from the decomposition of adsorbed hydrocarbon molecules.