Density of gold: determination of a sample based on density

The density of gold is one of the unique physical characteristics of this metal. Since it is soft, other metals are added to it for practical use in order to improve the technological properties.

In the jewelry business, as we know, alloys of precious metals are used in different proportions. The pure noble metal content in the alloy is measured in thousandth parts: the 585th test is an alloy with a pure gold content of 585 parts out of 1000. The corresponding figure is displayed on the product. Accordingly, with the addition of other metals, the density of gold, i.e. its alloy, varies. Based on this indicator, the authenticity and conformity of the claimed sample are determined at the places where gold products are received.

Characteristics of gold

Precious gold is a heavy metal. Its density in pure form is 19 621 kg / m³. To perceive the dry fact as brightly as possible, imagine a small ball of pure metal with a diameter of 46 mm. Its mass will be equal to 1 kilogram.

High density of gold is also used in its extraction: it is thanks to it that nuggets and sand can be weeded from rocks by washing.

The density of gold in pure form (the volume, which is considered to be 999.99-th probe) is 19.3 g / cm ³ . Native, it has a slightly lower density: 18-18.5 g / cm ³ . In alloys of different samples this indicator is different. We will discuss them further.

Density of gold alloys

As we know from the school course, the density of the material is a physical property, defined as the mass of a unit of volume taken. It is measured through the ratio of body weight and its magnitude.

For the production of alloys suitable for use in jewelry production, gold is mixed with copper, silver, nickel, platinum, palladium and other metals, both noble and not. Let's pass to data on density of alloys of gold of a different sample.

The most popular, affordable and perfectly suitable for working with it, is the 585th test. The density of gold in the 585th test is 12.5-14 g / cm ³ . The same framework is defined and the 583rd sample (the Soviet model).

For coins, the 900th and 917th, the indices are 17,10-17,24 g / cm ³ and 17,34-17,83 g / cm ³ , respectively.

Also, the commonly occurring sample in 750th jewelry has a density of 14.5-17.5 g / cm ³ .

The density of low-grade gold, 375-th test, is 11.54-11.56 g / cm ³ .

And, finally, let us remember another noble metal - silver. It is much lighter than gold, and the density of silver alloys is also lower.

Thus, the density of the most common in the products of the alloy of the 925-th test is 10.36 g / cm ³ . The second in use, the 875th test, is 10.28 g / cm ³ .

The density of gold and silver is an important indicator that helps determine the content in a pure noble metal alloy using different methods. About one of them, available, we'll talk further.

Hydrostatic method: we determine the sample of a precious alloy

In institutions specializing in the reception of gold products, many different methods are used to determine and confirm the sample of gold brought. Based on the knowledge that gold is a heavy metal with a high density, a hydrostatic method was introduced.

It is based on the determination of the difference in weight when measuring indices in the open air, under normal conditions, and in a liquid with a certain known density.

We will make a reservation at once: this method of checking gold is suitable only for holistic items, without stones and other inserts from other materials. It is also impossible to obtain adequate data on hollow products consisting of many moving parts.

To carry out hydrostatic weighing of a gold item, you will need jewelry scales, a measuring cup (or any other transparent), fishing line or a thin thread. Distilled water is usually used as a liquid of known density . First, the gold product is weighed in the usual way, the data is fixed. Then a glass with water filled more than half is put on the scale, the balance indication is reset (on the scales there should be a function of zeroing the tare weight). Our gold product hung on the line, falls into the water completely, without touching the bottom and walls of the glass. These weights are also recorded.

For density analysis, it is better to use a hydrostatic calculator, since manual rendering will take much longer and is not so accurate.

conclusions

So, in this article, we examined the density of gold - a precious metal, which every one of us has encountered in our life and will still face. The summarized data can be summarized as follows: the density of the most popular gold sample, 585th, is 12.5-14 g / cm ³ , in other alloys - smaller or larger, respectively.

The density of the gold alloy can be determined by the sample, which is an indicator of the content of pure gold in the alloy. These methods are used in institutions dealing with the reception of gold.

We hope our article was informative and gave you several fascinating minutes. Let in your casket there will be only present high-grade gold!