Final answer:
The density of the gold nugget, given a mass of 472 g and volume of 24.6 mL, is calculated to be 19.19 g/mL using the formula d = m/V.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the density of a supposedly gold nugget which has a mass of 472 grams and displaces 24.6 mL of water. Density (d) is defined as the mass (m) of an object divided by its volume (V). To find the density of the nugget, use the formula d = m/V. In this case:
d = 472 g / 24.6 mL
Now, calculate the density:
d = 19.19 g/mL
This calculated density can be compared to the standard density of gold, which is 19.3 g/mL, to speculate on the composition of the nugget.