Is a ring whose mass is #52.3*g#, and whose volume is #3.52*cm^3# likely to be platinum metal? #rho_"platinum"-=21.45*g*cm^-3#.

1 Answer
Sep 2, 2017

Well this site quotes the density of platinum as #21.45*g*cm^-3#.

Explanation:

The measured density of the ring is.....#rho="mass"/"volume"#,

i.e. #rho=(52.3*g)/(3.52*cm^3)=14.9*g*cm^-3#.

Given that density is a fundamental property of pure solids and pure liquids, it seems unlikely that we have got a lump of platinum.