As rumours that gold bars may in fact be gold plated tungsten have surfaced, here’s a simple way to test your gold for purity. Gold has a specific gravity of 19.32 (tungsten is 19.60). A 1 ounce gold coin (28.3495 grams) when placed in water will displace an extra 1.467 cc of water, 29.8165 cc (tungsten an extra 1.446 cc – 29.7955 cc). Tungsten displaces less water than gold. The more you have, the easier it is to detect.
One ounce of silver will displace an extra 2.70 cc of water – 31.0495 cc (in case you wondered).
(original February 12, 2011)
An ounce avoidupois is equal to 28.35 grams.
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER...
Gold is sold in TROY OUNCES. An ounce TROY is 31.103 grams.
Then you make another mistake...American Eagles are not PURE. THEY ARE 90%. The other 10% is Silver and Copper. They have a mass of a little over 34 grams.
THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO TEST.
Thanks for pointing out the error. However, the method is still sound. There will be a verifiable difference between real and "fake".
DeleteNo, it isn't sound. If you don't know which one is real, and which one is fake, you still have a problem.
ReplyDeleteAnd measuring a difference between 1.467 cc and 1.446 cc is in fact as easy to detect, as buying an ultrasonograph to test your Golden Eagle.