how can you tell if a metal is gold?

Answer 1

Do confirmation tests of gold

Answer 2

In the 19th century, a person would bite a gold coin. Gold is so soft, that the person would leave teeth marks.

Nowadays, you have to take gold to a jeweler. They have x-ray machines that bombard "gold" objects with x-rays. The gold fluoresces with a characteristic energy or wavelength of x-ray. Other metals also fluoresce. Gold is often alloyed with copper or silver, so they may be there too. 24-Carat gold means 100% gold. Gold may be as low as 14-carat, which is 14/24 = 58% gold. Don't feel too bad.

I feed my cats with a gold-plated fork. I am very careful never to "scrub" the fork with anything, because that would ruin the sheen. Gold is very soft.

Answer 3

1.rub it on a hard surface to see whether the inside and outside is of the same color and shine as gold do not corrode like other metals.

2.gold is very malliable and ductile

3.go for acid test.do it in the presence of a gold smith.but do this only if u r not bothered in the weight of the ornament as it will loose some weight in the process.

almost all the jewellery has electronic carat testing equipments these days.they do it for free.

Answer 4

I agree with the person who suggested x-ray flourescense, since it is non-destructive, quick and easy.

An old technique is to test with Nitric Acid (historically called Aqua Fortis). Gold and Platinum will not dissolve. This has had a following because it is so cheap, not involving fancy instruments.
The mixture of 3 parts hydrochloric to one part nitric acids, known historically as Aqua Regia and chemically as nitrosyl chloride, will dissolve both metals.

Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) is another technique, generally involving access to a reactor, however there are discrete neutron sources that can be used to activate the metals. Your sample is made temporarily radioactive measurements with a geiger counter, with interpretation, give the abundances of different metals.

Archimedes method, suggested above, is good for confirming 24K.
You can also estimate lower grades content, if you know what they might be alloyed with and also provided they are only alloyed with one thing.
For a small piece, though, the precision in weighing and in measuring the displaced voume requires good comprehension of the method as well as an analytical balance and precision volumetric apparatus such as sensitve burettes.

Answer 5

The famous Greek scientist Archimedes reportedly solved this problem using bouyancy. His king had commissioned a golden laurel wreath to be made for him, but he wanted to make sure it was pure gold, and that silver was not added by the goldsmith. By measuring the amount of water displaced when the wreath was submerged, he could calculate the metal's density and confirm if it was made of pure gold or not.

Answer 6

The fire-assay technique is the oldest and most reliable method for the analysis of gold in gold-bearing ores and remains to this day the industry standard method.

Answer 7

Hi. Gold can be hammered into a very, VERY, thin sheet. More so than any other metal except silver.

Answer 8

Bite it. The less pure the gold, the harder it will be

Answer 9

If I remember correctly, it is not gold if you can pick it up with a magnet.

Answer 10

huh