Holy cow, and at the moment I post this, a mere $23.30 seperates the two: Platinum = $768, Gold = $745.30 Not that you'll be able to find any platinum at these prices...
You exaggerate a little. Osmium is only about 10% heavier than gold or, if you prefer, about twice as heavy as lead. All of that, but it is the heaviest element known.
All I can say is what I said was in my chemistry book all those years ago. That was exactly how they described it.
The density of silver is 10.49 gm/cc. Really, a quarter is about (6.25 gm)/(10.49 gm/cc) = 0.59 cc. That is only slightly off because it is an alloy of silver for the quarter.
I will not deny osmium is heavy (and iridium is right there), but there really is not that much difference between them and gold. And platinum is about half way between them. Now, if you are comparing it to salt or water, the difference is rather obvious.
No, that was just the description used in the book. They said flat out that a salt shaker full of it would crash through your kitchen table and the floor. Have never forgotten it. It's one of those things that just sticks with you.
Right, so, at least according you my off the sleave math, a quarter size coin Os weighs about as much as an ASE which is substantial And it is the densest substance known to man at STP, with Ir being a close second. 22.4g/cc A salt shaker might have 2 ounces? 60ml and then weigh about 1.2 Kg or about 2.5 pounds? 22 times heavier than water, and water is heavy. That is heavy... Ruben
Gold has a higher specific gravity than lead? I'll have to look that up but it doesn't sound right. Ruben
I will believe that they said it, but think about that a minute. A big salt shaker might be 2 cubic inches. That is 33 cc's or 745 gms of osmium = 1.6 pounds. Even a huge salt shaker (20 cubic inches) would only weigh 16 pounds. I don't know what you have for a kitchen table, but you have no approached falling through my table.
Substance Density in kg·m-3 Iridium 22650 Osmium 22610 Platinum 21450 Gold 19300 Tungsten 19250 Uranium 19050 Mercury 13580 Palladium 12023 Lead 11340 Silver 10490 Copper 8960 Lead is not even close to gold. On that scale, lead is not even that heavy.
I understand pal. And I also understand, now, that it was a rediculous comment. But then I never bothered to look it up and figure it out. But 40 years ago I just pretty much tended to believe what was written in my school books.
Quote: Originally Posted by mrbrklyn View Post actaully - I take it back a Quarter is a shade less than a cubic centimeter (2.426/2)^2 * 3.14 * .195 =~ 0.9 CC so a quarter that weighs ~ 20 grams is about correct where an ASE weights in at 31.1 grams? Ruben The density of silver is 10.49 gm/cc. Really, a quarter is about (6.25 gm)/(10.49 gm/cc) = 0.59 cc. That is only slightly off because it is an alloy of silver for the quarter. -------------------------- These numbers are from the mints website. A quarter currently is Composition: Cupro-Nickel: 8.33% Ni, Balance Cu Weight: 5.670 g Diameter: 0.955 in., 24.26 mm Thickness: 1.75 mm Edge: 119 reeds 2.426 cm diameter 0.175cm thichness (d/2)^2 * 3.14 *T = volume If I did the math wrong, my apologies. Ruben
I copied that straight from the source. But, FWIW, the density of iridium seems to be either hard to calculate or variable. I have seen it from about 22.4 to 22.7.
well a cubic meter, which is not that large, would weigh nearly a metric ton, and that would go through the table. Ruben
It's because it changes depending on temperature. In liquid it drops to 19. The source was probably just a typo, they reversed the 5 and 6 is all.
no those numbers are wrong..the latest assays in the journals shows Os to be more dense. I'm looking at it in the NAS array reference right not for 2008. Ruben
I think 500 lbs, if concentrated to 1 sq in (about the size of the bottom of a salt shaker), would go thru the table.