Descride how gold can be seperated from a mixture of sand and dirt. What characteristic property of gold allows it to be separated in this way?
2007-09-10 09:46:50 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
It's density it so must greater that dirt SiO2
Au - 19.3 g/cm3
SiO2 - 2.2 g/cm3
that it settles to the bottom of any container that the two are mixed in and agitated.
2007-09-10 09:55:04 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm... If you want a chemical way to extract gold (Au) from sand and dirt, spray it with concentrated cyanide (CN). This should form soluble compounds of Au. This, however, is dangerous work as CN is very toxic ^^
Panning would be the next best thing. It relies on the fact that Au is heavier than sand or dirt. Au will sink while the sand and dirt are suspended in water. All you have to do is slowly rotate the pan until what you have left are the small granules of Au left on the bottom of the pan.
2007-09-10 10:19:43 · answer #2 · answered by Great_Magician13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Add mercury to your sand/dirt/gold.
Squeeze the mercury-gold amalgam out through a piece of cloth, leaving the sand and dirt behind.
You can then heat the mercury-gold amalgam to drive off the mercury and leave only the gold.
You then report to a hospital for mercury poisoning, and you pay a huge fine for releasing mercury into the environment.
2007-09-10 10:17:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You want to look up "panning". It relies on the high density of gold.
2007-09-10 09:54:32 · answer #4 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Particle suspension in water.
Gold is way heavier so it does not suspend upon agitation.
2007-09-10 09:55:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋