[Jewelry making - Article 00784] - Re: [Orchid] Gold testing and reclaimation

[Judy Willingham]

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Hello Noran,

    If you have a good scale measuring to 0.1 gram or so and a small
    container full of water, play Archimedes. Note: The container must
    be large enough to allow complete immersion of the objects. 

    Weigh the questionable item and put it into the container of water -
    the displaced water will overflow. Carefully remove the item, being
    sure to shake any beads of water back into the container. (You might
    want to use a hook.) 

    Weigh out some gold (14K is commonly used if you're in the US) to
    the same weight as the unknown; place the gold into the same
    container and see if the water level comes up to match the same level
    as when the unknown was immersed. If so, the material of both objects
    is the same. 

    Actually, the order of unknown or known first doesn't matter. You
    are concerned with whether or not the amount of water displaced is
    the same. 

    The denser material (gold, Pt) will displace less water than the
    same weight of a less dense material (brass, silver, etc). 

    Google Archimedes Principle for more info. 

Judy in Kansas, where the forced branches of forsythia are beginning to
bloom - "Oh frabjous day! Callou! Callay!"
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