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It is function of the density of the three metals. The density of iron is less than that of mercury, but the density of gold is greater.
Density of iron: 7.86 g/cm3
Density of mercury: 13.53 g/cm3
Density of gold: 19.3 g/cm3
Anything more dense than a liquid will sink in that liquid, and anything less dense will float. For comparison, the density of water is only 1 g/cm3, so all three would sink in a pool of water. Styrofoam for instance is less dense than water and so it floats in water.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Iron floats in Mercury because it is less dense than mercury, whereas gold sinks because it is more dense than mercury. The density of a material determines whether it will float or sink in another substance, with denser materials sinking and less dense materials floating.
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Does silver float?
No, silver is a dense metal and will sink in water.
What weighs more gold or Mercury?
Mercury is denser and heavier than gold. Gold has a density of about 19.3 g/cm3, while Mercury has a density of about 13.6 g/cm3. Therefore, Mercury would weigh more than gold for the same volume of each substance.
What happen if gold is dipped in water?
A physicist's answer. Archimedes principle: It would displace either it's volume of Mercury (if the specific gravity (SG) of mercury is less than that of gold...which I think it is and there were enough mercury for the gold to completely submerge the gold, i.e it sinks to the bottom) OR it would displace it's weight of mercury (assuming the SG of mercury is greater than that of gold...which I doubt, again assuming sufficient mercury in the container, i.e. it floats). Also, amalgamation of the gold and mercury will take place over time. I'm not sure what voltaic phenomenon might occur.
What substances will sink in mercury?
the solids that will float on liquid mercury are coal, ironware's or objects with lower specific density
What machine separates gold from mercury?
A centrifuge machine can be used to separate gold from mercury. The centrifuge uses centrifugal force to separate the heavier gold from the lighter mercury.
Why does gold sink in Mercury?
Gold sinks in mercury due to its high density compared to mercury. Gold has a density of around 19.3 g/cm^3, while mercury has a density of about 13.6 g/cm^3. This density difference causes gold to sink in mercury when the two substances are in contact.
Does real gold sing and fools gold float?
real gold does not sing it sinks and so does fools gold.
Will a block of ice sink in mercury metal?
No, a block of ice will not sink in mercury because ice is less dense than mercury and will therefore float on top of it. Mercury is a very dense liquid metal and most solid objects, including ice, will float on its surface.
Can gold float on mercury?
Gold is a higher density than Mercury so it will sink if placed into a container of mercury.
Does gold sink or float in mercury?
Gold would definatly sink in mercury............ mercury is much much denser then gold so therefor the gold will float. The amount of upthrrust will be the same as the amount of weight causing the gold to float. My science teacher told me and so did my science book and so did almost all the sites i looked up. ;) ======================== I don't have enough of either one to be able to check it out, and I don't have a science book or a science teacher to consult. But the way I understand it, here's how you figure out the answer: -- The density of Mercury is 13.53 gm/cm3 -- The density of gold is 19.32 gm/cm3 -- So, unless you carefully shape the gold into a little tiny canoe, bass-boat, or cruise ship, that can displace a lot more volume than simply the volume of the nugget, it will sink in the mercury. The reason is: Because gold is more dense than mercury. It doesn't have to be 'much much denser'. It only has to be more dense.
Does pure gold float?
Yes, pure gold is a very dense metal. It is around 19 times denser than water, so it sinks in water and does not float.
Does Mercury float?
no, mercury is a substanable resource meaning non waterised substance so cannot float in water No, mercury is heavier than water. It can't float in water. It is actually a metal that is liquid at room temperature and for several degrees around that. That's why it's used in thermometers.
What lquids can make gold float?
No liquid can make gold float as gold is much denser than any liquid. However, gold can be suspended or dispersed in liquids such as mercury or certain types of molten metallic alloys due to their high density.
Does silver float?
No, silver is a dense metal and will sink in water.
What mass can float in mercury?
Since the density of mercury is about 13.6 g/cm³ and the density of most metals is higher than that, only very few metals like bismuth (density of 9.8 g/cm³) can float on mercury. Therefore, a small mass of bismuth or other very low density metal could float on mercury.
What weighs more gold or Mercury?
Mercury is denser and heavier than gold. Gold has a density of about 19.3 g/cm3, while Mercury has a density of about 13.6 g/cm3. Therefore, Mercury would weigh more than gold for the same volume of each substance.
What does gold do when it is in the water?
gold sinks in water
