As a new member to this forum, I think this is an excellent group!
Here's another way of determining karat values which I haven't seen mentioned in any posting. I wonder if other members of our little group utilize specific gravity to figure their gold karat values?
One of my favorite ways of figuring karat value is by measuring specific gravity. It's not as complicated as it may sound. The classic formula for measuring specific gravity is fairly straight forward. Air weight of an item divided by the product of the subtraction of the item's water weight from it's air weight equals specific gravity. To wit, as follows:
Step # 1: Weigh the item. This is referred to as it's "air weight".
Step # 2: Weigh the item submersed in water. This is referred to as it's "water weight".
Step # 3: Subtract the "water weight" from it's "air weight". This is referred to as it's "s. g. factor number".
Step # 4: Divide the "air weight" by it's "s. g. factor number."
The resulting number is the actual specific gravity of the item in question.
Of course, one may, alternatively, utilize electronic devices or acids to measure the karat value of a gold item. Electronic devices, however, are not infallible and do make mistakes. A touchstone and acids can give accurate results but can be potentially nasty and hazardous. Moreover, acids that have been sitting around awhile can lose some of it's pizazz.
Measuring the specific gravity of gold as a way of determining it's karat value is not all that complicated or difficult to do. And it provides a very accurate gold karat value test result.
Here's another way of determining karat values which I haven't seen mentioned in any posting. I wonder if other members of our little group utilize specific gravity to figure their gold karat values?
One of my favorite ways of figuring karat value is by measuring specific gravity. It's not as complicated as it may sound. The classic formula for measuring specific gravity is fairly straight forward. Air weight of an item divided by the product of the subtraction of the item's water weight from it's air weight equals specific gravity. To wit, as follows:
Step # 1: Weigh the item. This is referred to as it's "air weight".
Step # 2: Weigh the item submersed in water. This is referred to as it's "water weight".
Step # 3: Subtract the "water weight" from it's "air weight". This is referred to as it's "s. g. factor number".
Step # 4: Divide the "air weight" by it's "s. g. factor number."
The resulting number is the actual specific gravity of the item in question.
Of course, one may, alternatively, utilize electronic devices or acids to measure the karat value of a gold item. Electronic devices, however, are not infallible and do make mistakes. A touchstone and acids can give accurate results but can be potentially nasty and hazardous. Moreover, acids that have been sitting around awhile can lose some of it's pizazz.
Measuring the specific gravity of gold as a way of determining it's karat value is not all that complicated or difficult to do. And it provides a very accurate gold karat value test result.