1.) How can you distinguish "Fool's Gold" from pure gold?
*need your help thanks...:)
*need your help thanks...:)
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fool's gold is iron pyrite, and iron pyrite has very different physical and electrical properties from pure gold.
the most telling one is that pure gold is very malleable whereas iron pyrite is very brittle.
so smash it with a hammer and see if it shatters (iron pyrite) or deforms (gold).
another way to tell is that gold is much more dense than iron pyrite.
so if you can measure the volume of the sample, and you know the density of pure gold, then you can set up a balance with the appropriate mass on one side and the sample on the other -- if it balances, you've got pure gold, otherwise it's iron pyrite.
the most telling one is that pure gold is very malleable whereas iron pyrite is very brittle.
so smash it with a hammer and see if it shatters (iron pyrite) or deforms (gold).
another way to tell is that gold is much more dense than iron pyrite.
so if you can measure the volume of the sample, and you know the density of pure gold, then you can set up a balance with the appropriate mass on one side and the sample on the other -- if it balances, you've got pure gold, otherwise it's iron pyrite.
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Use Archimedes Principle.
Weigh both unidentified samples.
Then submerge each in water, and weigh the water displaced.
The greater density displaces less water.
The lower density will displace more.
Weigh both unidentified samples.
Then submerge each in water, and weigh the water displaced.
The greater density displaces less water.
The lower density will displace more.
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fools gold(pyrite) is brittle