Which element or elements are alloyed with gold to make the following types of 'colored gold' used in the jewelry industry? For each type, also indicate what type of alloy is formed: (c) green gold.

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Identify the base metal in the alloy, which is gold.

Recognize that 'green gold' is a specific type of colored gold used in jewelry, which involves alloying gold with other metals to achieve a greenish hue.

Determine the metal that is commonly alloyed with gold to produce green gold. The most common metal used is silver.

Understand the type of alloy formed. When gold is alloyed with silver, the resulting alloy is a solid solution.

Consider the proportions in which gold and silver might be mixed, as varying the proportions can affect the shade of green produced in the final alloy.

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Key Concepts

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

Alloy Formation

An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, where at least one is a metal. In the case of colored gold, different metals are alloyed with pure gold to alter its color and properties. The process involves melting the metals together, allowing them to combine at the atomic level, resulting in a new material with distinct characteristics.

Colored Gold Types

Colored gold refers to gold alloys that exhibit different hues due to the addition of other metals. For example, green gold is typically created by alloying gold with silver and sometimes a small amount of copper. The specific proportions of these metals influence the final color and properties of the gold, making it suitable for various jewelry applications.

Green Gold Composition

Green gold is primarily an alloy of gold and silver, with the silver content being higher than that of copper. This combination results in a distinctive greenish hue. The typical composition might include around 75% gold and 25% silver, but variations exist. Understanding the specific ratios is essential for jewelers to achieve the desired color and quality in their pieces.

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Textbook Question

Indicate whether each statement is true or false: (c) Nonmetallic elements are never found in alloys.

Textbook Question

An increase in temperature causes most metals to undergo thermal expansion, which means the volume of the metal increases upon heating. How does thermal expansion affect the unit cell length? What is the effect of an increase in temperature on the density of a metal?

Textbook Question

State whether each sentence is true or false: (a) Metals have high electrical conductivities because the electrons in the metal are delocalized. (c) Metals have large thermal conductivities because they expand when heated. (d) Metals have small thermal conductivities because the delocalized electrons cannot easily transfer the kinetic energy imparted to the metal from heat.

Textbook Question

State whether each sentence is true or false: (b) Metals have high electrical conductivities because they are denser than other solids.