2. The densities of the coinage metals (copper, silver and gold) are as follows:
copper = 8.95 g/cm3
silver = 12.59 g/cm3
gold = 19.32 g/cm3
A sample of material is found to weigh 15.12 grams and have a volume of 1.20 cm3. The sample is most likely which of the coinage metals listed above?
a. copper
b. silver
c. gold
To determine which of the coinage metals the sample is most likely to be, we can calculate its density and compare it to the densities of copper, silver, and gold.
Density is calculated by dividing the mass of an object by its volume:
Density = mass/volume
For the given sample:
Density = 15.12 g / 1.20 cm^3
Density = 12.6 g/cm^3
Comparing this density to the densities of the coinage metals:
- Copper has a density of 8.95 g/cm^3
- Silver has a density of 12.59 g/cm^3
- Gold has a density of 19.32 g/cm^3
Since the density of the sample (12.6 g/cm^3) is closest to the density of silver (12.59 g/cm^3), it is most likely that the sample is silver.
Therefore, the answer is b. silver.