One day Reeta went to a jeweller’s shop with her mother. Her mother gave old gold jewellery to the goldsmith to polish. Next day when they brought the jewellery back, they found that there was a slight loss in its weight. Can you suggest a reason for the loss in weight?

 

Answer

To polish an ornament, the goldsmith dips the gold ornament in aqua regia. Aqua regia is a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. After getting dipped in the aqua regia, the outer layer of the gold dissolves in the solution and the shiny part appears. Due to the dissolving of some part of the ornament, it’s weight reduces.

Go Ad-free
Maninder Singh's photo - Co-founder, Teachoo

Made by

Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo