Why does each metal have different density?

Question

any simple answers are appreciated.

Answer 1

The mass of an atom depends primarily on the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus, its atomic weight. In a gaseous state, its volume is determined generally by Boyle's ideal gas law, so there its density is proportional to its atomic weight. In a liquid or solid state, its volume is determined primarily by the number of electron shells. So its density would increase as the atomic weight until it's time to start populating a new electron shell. Then, its mass would increase slightly but its volume would increase a lot, so its density would decrease.

Answer 2

The mass of an element depends on it's molecular weight. The volume of the metal depends on the structure of it's unit cell. The unit cell has the nucleus in the center and shows how the atom is connected to other atoms in the metals crystalline structure. There are a small number of types of U.C. -- body - centered cubic, face-centered cubic, diamond-cubic, rhombic, and a few others.

The important thing to remember is that the unit cell determines the volume, and density = mass / volume. Every element is different.

P.S. Recall that Archimedes used the density of the crown to find out if the King of Syracuse was real gold or adulterated!

Answer 3

D=M\V
Each element has a different number of protons.
Therefore, each element will have a different mass.
With a different mass, each element will have a different M\V.