Why Gold is more dense than lead?

  • Thread starter yasar1967
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Gold Lead
In summary, Gold has a lower atomic number and atomic mass than Lead, but Lead has a higher density of 11.000kg/m3 compared to Gold's 19.000kg/m3. This is due to the fact that even though Lead has a greater atomic mass, the atoms are less tightly packed than those of Gold, resulting in a larger volume and lower density. This is evident in the scatter plots of density for both elements, where the periodic peaks in density correspond to the atomic radii and bond lengths. Therefore, the atomic structure and bond radius also play a significant role in determining the density of an element.
  • #1
yasar1967
73
0
Gold has atomic number of 79 whereas Lead has 82 but lead has 11.000kg/m3 density as to Gold's 19.000kg/m3.

How come??
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
  • #2
Look at the scatter plots of density here.
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Au/phys.html
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Pb/phys.html

Note the periodic peaks in density, even as atomic mass is gradually increasing.


Density of an element is related to Atomic Mass and Atomic Density. Atomic mass of Au is ~197 and that of Pb ~ 207. However, when we look at the atomic radii and bond lengths, those distances are smaller for Au than Pb.

http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Au/radii.html
The atomic radius for Au is ~ 135 pm, and the Au-Au bond length ~ 288.4 pm.

http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Pb/radii.html
The atomic radius for Pb is ~ 180 pm, and the Pb-Pb bond length ~ 350.0 pm.

So the Au atoms are more tightly packed than Pb atoms, and thus even though the atomic mass of Pb (207) is greater than Au (197), the density of Au is greater than that of Pb.
 
  • #3
thank you
 
  • #4
density=mass/volume.
although gold has a lower atomic mass than Pb, the volume should also be considered.
that is the strucuture(size of Au/Pb and metallic bond radius...)
 

1. Why is gold more dense than lead?

The density of an element is determined by its atomic structure. Gold has a higher density than lead because it has a higher atomic number and a larger atomic radius, which means that it has more protons and neutrons in its nucleus and more electrons in its outer shell.

2. How does the atomic structure of gold differ from that of lead?

Gold has 79 protons and 118 neutrons in its nucleus, while lead has 82 protons and 126 neutrons. Gold also has more electrons in its outer shell, which contributes to its higher density.

3. Does the density of an element affect its properties?

Yes, the density of an element can affect its properties. For example, gold is more malleable and ductile than lead, which means it can be easily shaped and stretched without breaking. This is due to its higher density, which allows the atoms to pack more tightly together.

4. How does the density of gold and lead compare to other elements?

Gold and lead have relatively high densities compared to other elements. Gold's density is 19.3 g/cm3, while lead's density is 11.3 g/cm3. However, there are many other elements that have higher densities than gold and lead, such as osmium and iridium.

5. Can the density of an element change?

The density of an element can change under extreme conditions, such as high pressure and temperature. For example, lead can become denser when subjected to high pressure, but this change is only temporary and the element will return to its original density when the pressure is released.

Similar threads

  • Chemistry
Replies
1
Views
835
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
2
Views
870
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • Atomic and Condensed Matter
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
1
Views
912
  • Atomic and Condensed Matter
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • Chemistry
Replies
17
Views
30K
  • Other Physics Topics
Replies
2
Views
1K
Back
Top