Activity V: Is It Real Gold?

Culminating Activity

Problem: Your teacher has just bought a cup of gold weights for $50. You think she has been duped. To help her learn the truth, please use density to determine what metal the weights are made of. Use what you know about density to develop a lab experiment which will compare the densities of known metals to the density of the unknown gold weights.

You will work in groups to develop the lab and collect the data, but each student will turn in their lab report with their own data chart and graph.

Your final lab report must be done using a word processor with the data chart and graph produced using a spreadsheet and imported into the document. Your lab report must have all of the sections listed below handout.

Title:

Problem:

Background Research:

Densities of Common Metals:

Use your research materials to determine the known densities of these materials

Gold:

Lead:

Tin:

Silver:

Aluminum:

Copper:

Hypothesis: Do you think the weights are made of Gold? If not, what metal do you think the weights are made of? Give a reason for your answer.

Procedure

Materials

Method

Results

Data Chart (done using a spreadsheet)

Analysis Chart of known and unknown densities (done using a spreadsheet)

Conclusion

What metal is the weight made of? How were you able to use density to determine the composition of the weight.