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Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement
Chapter 1, Problem 95b

Gold is alloyed (mixed) with other metals to increase its hardness in making jewelry. (b) The relative amount of gold in an alloy is commonly expressed in units of carats. Pure gold is 24 carat, and the percentage of gold in an alloy is given as a percentage of this value. For example, an alloy that is 50% gold is 12 carat. State the purity of the gold jewelry in carats.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Alloy Composition

An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals, where the properties of the resulting material differ from those of the individual components. In jewelry, gold is often alloyed with metals like copper or silver to enhance its hardness and durability. The composition of an alloy is crucial for determining its physical properties and applications.
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Carat System

The carat system is a unit of measurement used to express the purity of gold. Pure gold is defined as 24 carats, meaning it contains 100% gold. The carat value decreases as the proportion of gold in the alloy decreases, allowing for a straightforward way to communicate the quality of gold in jewelry.
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Percentage Calculation

Understanding percentage calculations is essential for determining the carat value of gold alloys. The percentage of gold in an alloy can be converted to carats by using the formula: Carats = (Percentage of Gold / 100) * 24. This relationship allows jewelers and consumers to assess the quality and value of gold jewelry based on its gold content.
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Related Practice
Open Question

The mass of an empty oil drum is listed as 2.0×104 g. After a quantity of biodiesel fuel is added to the drum, the total mass is 7.05×105 g.

a. To how many significant figures should the mass of the biodiesel in the drum be reported?

b. The density of the biodiesel fuel is 0.875 g/cm3. What is the volume of biodiesel that has been added to the drum, in L?

Textbook Question

A 32.65-g sample of a solid is placed in a flask. Toluene, in which the solid is insoluble, is added to the flask so that the total volume of solid and liquid together is 50.00 mL. The solid and toluene together weigh 58.58 g. The density of toluene at the temperature of the experiment is 0.864 g/mL. What is the density of the solid?

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Textbook Question

Automobile batteries contain sulfuric acid, which is commonly referred to as “battery acid.” Calculate the number of grams of sulfuric acid in 1.00 gal of battery acid if the solution has a density of 1.28 g/mL and is 38.1% sulfuric acid by mass.

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Textbook Question

Judge the following statements as true or false. If you believe a statement to be false, provide a corrected version. (a) Air and water are both elements.

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Textbook Question

Judge the following statements as true or false. If you believe a statement to be false, provide a corrected version. (b) All mixtures contain at least one element and one compound.

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Textbook Question

Judge the following statements as true or false. If you believe a statement to be false, provide a corrected version. (c) Compounds can be decomposed into two or more other substances; elements cannot.

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