Question

What is the density of 18.0-karat gold that is a mixture of 18 parts gold, 5 parts silver, and 1 part copper? (These values are parts by mass, not volume.) Assume that this is a simple mixture having an average density equal to the weighted densities of its constituents.

a) 14.7 g/cm³
b) 16.2 g/cm³
c) 18.3 g/cm³
d) 20.1 g/cm³

Answer 1

The density of 18.0-karat gold that is a mixture of 18 parts gold, 5 parts silver, and 1 part copper is approximately 16.2 g/cm³.

Step-by-step explanation:

The density of 18.0-karat gold can be calculated by considering the weighted densities of its constituents. According to the given values, the mixture consists of 18 parts gold, 5 parts silver, and 1 part copper.

We can assume that the average density of the mixture is equal to the weighted densities of its constituents.

The density of gold is approximately 19.3 g/cm³, the density of silver is about 10.5 g/cm³, and the density of copper is around 8.96 g/cm³.

By calculating the weighted average, we find that the density of the 18.0-karat gold mixture is approximately 16.2 g/cm³.