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The Density of Gold and its Importance
Perhaps no material on earth can compare to gold in terms of shaping the histories of nations and people. While its beauty and luster attract the most attention, it is in no small part its density that has made it possible for even those of humble means to become wealthy beyond their wildest imaginations. It is in fact gold's density that makes it possible to collect the metal without expensive equipment. Even in industrial-scale gold mining, the metal's density plays a vital role in making it possible to extract the material.
What is the Density of Gold and How is it Calculated?
Before discussing gold's density, it is first essential to understand density in the context of chemistry. According to Merriam Webster's online dictionary, density in chemistry is "the mass of a substance per unit of volume." The scientific formula for density is mass/volume.
Gold's recorded density at room temperature is 19.32 g per cubic centimeter, which is roughly 19x the density of water. This difference in density between the yellow metal and the streams in which it can sometimes be found made the concept of panning possible. Using just a frying pan, anyone could gather gravel and sand by a riverbed and swirl it. The heaviest materials sink to the bottom as the gravel and sand wash out. The possibility of finding precious metals in something as simple as a stream is what made gold rushes attractive to so many looking to make their fortunes.
Does the Density of Gold Ever Change?
Like other metals, the density of gold does change with extreme temperatures. For example, gold's density is 18.31 g/cubic centimeter just below its melting point (1064° Celsius) and 17.19 31 g/cubic centimeters just above its melting point compared to 19.32 g/cubic centimeters at room temperature. Therefore, its volume is reduced by 6% when molten gold solidifies. This reduction in volume is the reason that there is typically a shrinkage depression on the top of a large cast silver bar.
What is the Density of Gold Compared to Other Metals?
Relative to other metals, gold is among the densest. There are seventy metals on the periodic table, and just six are denser than gold. In terms of metals used for coins, only platinum is denser. Silver is a little more than half as dense as gold. The density of tungsten is almost identical to that of gold, which is why the metal has historically been used to forge gold products, as forgers would coat the metal with a thin layer of gold. Products suspected of being made of tungsten can be tested easily using a magnet, as tungsten is attracted to a magnet while gold is repelled by one.
The density of gold may even catch some novice collectors and others who are new to precious metals by surprise. Those who collect it tend to admire its heft. The metal is heavier than reinforced concrete, and those holding gold coins or bars for the first time are often impressed, as though they are feeling the weight of wealth.
The luster, durability, and scarcity of gold will continue to make the metal coveted throughout the world, just as they have for thousands of years. It is one of its other qualities, though, its density, that is often overlooked and underappreciated. This crucial quality makes it possible for big and small miners alike to continue making this material available for coins, bars, and jewelry worldwide. At the same time, this important quality contributes to the feeling that virtually anyone who holds a gold coin or bar for the first time feels like they are holding wealth incarnate.
Sources:
https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/RuwanMeepagala.shtml
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/science/chemistry/properties-gold
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