Silver has a density of 10.5 g/#cm^3#and gold has a density of 19.3 g/#cm^3#. Which would have a greater mass, 5 E\#cm^3# of silver or 5 #cm^3# of gold?

1 Answer
anor277
Sep 10, 2016

Clearly, the gold will have a greater mass, as it has a greater density.

Explanation:

#"Density"# #=# #"Mass"/"Volume"#

Thus #"Mass"# #=# #"Density"(rho)xx"volume"#

#"Mass of silver"# #=# #10.5*g*cancel(cm^-3)xx5*cancel(cm^3)# #=# #52.5*g#.

#"Mass of gold"# #=# #19.3*g*cancel(cm^-3)xx5*cancel(cm^3)# #~=# #100*g#.

Note that I solved this problem dimensionally. I wanted an answer in grams; after cancelling out the units, I manifestly got an answer in grams. This is a check on whether I divided, multiplied, added correctly. It is all too easy to make an error.

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