How to Estimate the Density of a Gold Alloy
By Stuller |
June 5, 2013
The density of a material is the mass (weight) contained in a unit of volume. For precious metals, this is most commonly measured in Troy ounces per cubic inch.
What is the density of an alloy with the following composition?
| Weight Proportion | Expressed as a Decimal |
| 583 Parts Gold | 0.583 |
| 120 Parts Silver | 0.120 |
| 297 Parts Copper | 0.297 |
| 1000 Parts in Total | 1.000 |
- Multiply each metal's weight proportion expressed as a decimal by the density of the metal from the chart. See below.
Gold 0.583 x 10.180 = 5.935
Silver 0.120 x 5.525 = 0.663
Copper 0.297 x 4.719 = 1.402 - As shown above, total result of each multiplication. The sum is the estimated density of the alloy.
Note: Each different alloy's density will probably be somewhat different.
Specific Gravity, Melting Point, and Density of Various Metals and Alloys
| Metal | Chemical Abbreviation | Meting Point °F | Meting Point °C | Specific Gravity | Weight in Troy Ounces per Cubic Inch |
| Aluminum | Al | 1220 | 660 | 02.70 | 01.423 |
| Antimony | Sb | 1167 | 630 | 06.62 | 03.488 |
| Beryllium | Be | 2340 | 1282 | 01.82 | 00.959 |
| Bismuth | Bi | 520 | 271 | 09.80 | 05.163 |
| Cadmium | Cd | 610 | 321 | 08.65 | 04.557 |
| Carbon | C | - | - | 02.22 | 01.170 |
| Chromium | Ch | 3430 | 1888 | 07.19 | 03.788 |
| Cobalt | Co | 2723 | 1495 | 08.85 | 04.689 |
| Copper | Cu | 1981 | 1083 | 08.96 | 04.719 |
| Gold | Au | 1945 | 1063 | 19.32 | 10.180 |
| Iridium | Ir | 4449 | 2454 | 22.50 | 11.849 |
| Iron (pure) | Fe | 2802 | 1539 | 07.87 | 04.145 |
| Lead | Pb | 621 | 328 | 11.34 | 05.973 |
| Magnesium | Mg | 1202 | 650 | 01.74 | 00.917 |
| Manganese | Mn | 2273 | 1245 | 07.43 | 03.914 |
| Molybdenum | Mo | 4760 | 2625 | 10.20 | 05.347 |
| Nickel | Ni | 2651 | 1455 | 08.90 | 04.691 |
| Osmium | Os | 4892 | 2700 | 22.50 | 11.854 |
| Palladium | Pd | 2831 | 1555 | 12.00 | 06.322 |
| Phosphorus | Ph | 111 | 44 | 01.82 | 00.959 |
| Platinum | Pt | 3224 | 1773 | 21.45 | 11.301 |
| 15% Iridio Platinum | 3310 | 1821 | 21.59 | 11.373 | |
| 10% Iridio Platinum | 3250 | 1788 | 21.54 | 11.349 | |
| 5% Iridio Platinum | 3235 | 1779 | 21.50 | 11.325 | |
| Rhodium | Rh | 3571 | 1967 | 12.44 | 06.553 |
| Ruthenium | Ru | 4500 | 2500 | 12.20 | 06.428 |
| Silicon | Si | 2605 | 1430 | 02.33 | 01.247 |
| Silver | Ag | 1761 | 961 | 10.49 | 05.525 |
| Sterling Silver | 1640 | 893 | 10.36 | 05.457 | |
| Coin Silver | 1615 | 879 | 10.31 | 05.430 | |
| Tin | Sn | 450 | 232 | 07.30 | 03.846 |
| Zinc | Zn | 787 | 419 | 07.13 | 03.758 |