Does real gold sink or float in water!?

Question

My cousin has gold but he wants to know if it is real!

Answer 1

I recommended you go to a jewelry store which will do the testing, using either acid test or an electronic device for testing. That is still the best answer.

As for home products to do an "accurate" test for gold, I have yet to see such a product. Jewelry makers are quite able to do wonderful "plating work" which looks just like gold but covers a base metal like brass. Any mild surface test will not test the base metal and tell what the jewelry actually is.

Acid tests are not destructive to your jewelry if gold. If the item is NOT gold, there might be a spot left where the test was done but at least you will know it is not gold in that case. To test with acids, the jewelry is rubbed on a flat piece of slate rock. This removes metal from the surface. The jeweler must be sure the metal goes to the depth beyond any plated surface. The acid is placed on the rubbed off streak on the slate rock. That is when the gold content may be determined. If the item is not gold, the rubbed part on the jewelry may be polished but will likely tarnish since the base metal is exposed.

Electronic testers use a special gel material and an electrical probe to test the metal. These test leave no spots on the jewelry.

At home testing is something that would be nice but I know of no accurate home testing products. Sure, some may sell products claimed to test gold easily at home but I certainly doubt the accuracy of those items. I recommend using a jeweler who has both the professional equipment and knowhow to test and tell you what you REALLY have.

Answer 2

Gold has a specific gravity of 19.3, meaning it is 19.3 times heavier than the same volume of water. It sinks.

However, most gold used in jewelry is alloyed with something else, and the density is almost always a little less. But it will still sink.

You would need to consult an expert such as a metallurgist in order to determine the exact composition of the item in question. They would probably make measurements of different properties, everything from its specific gravity through its melting point and conductivity or resistance.

Answer 3

if the water is frozen it will float on top until it melts, then it will sink quickly
Actually, that is not a good test for determining the authenticity of a piece of gold. Take it to a local university mineralogy department if it is a nugget. Maybe they can verify it for you.

Answer 4

Sinks

Answer 5

My uncle is a jeweler so i'm able to help you right here.to tell if diamonds are actual there's a trick you do:wipe the diamond very gently with a mushy textile then if it glistens,it incredibly is actual.to tell if gold is actual there could desire to be and ensgravement someplace on a sturdy floor telling what variety of gold and what karrot.

Answer 6

This is not a good test to determine real gold. It is extremely dense so it will sink but so will pyrite (fools gold).

Answer 7

Gold is about 100 times heavier than an equal amount of water, so what do YOU think will happen if he puts some gold in a basin of water?... IT WILL SINK.

Answer 8

Gold sinks.

The best nearly idiot-proof way to tell if it's real is to see if he can bite it and make a dent. If there's a dent in the thing, it's (mostly) gold (or perhaps lead). If he breaks a tooth, it's not real gold.

Answer 9

Even aluminum sinks in water!

Answer 10

It definitely sinks... so would most "fake gold" too.