This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of gold and lead, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table
It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements
Gold vs Lead
Compare gold with another element
Compare lead with another element
Gold and Lead – About Elements
Gold is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal
Gold is a transition metal and a group 11 element
It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under standard conditions
Gold is thought to have been produced in supernova nucleosynthesis, from the collision of neutron stars
Lead is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials
Lead is soft and malleable, and has a relatively low melting point
Lead has the highest atomic number of any stable element and concludes three major decay chains of heavier elements
Gold and Lead – Applications
Gold is used extensively in jewellery, either in its pure form or as an alloy
About 75% of all gold produced is used in the jewelry industry
Pure gold is too soft to stand up to the stresses applied to many jewelry items
Craftsmen learned that alloying gold with other metals such as copper, silver, and platinum would increase its durability
The term ‘carat’ indicates the amount of gold present in an alloy
24-carat is pure gold, but it is very soft
18- and 9-carat gold alloys are commonly used because they are more durable
Gold’s high malleability, ductility, resistance to corrosion and most other chemical reactions, and conductivity of electricity have led to its continued use in corrosion resistant electrical connectors in all types of computerized devices (its chief industrial use)
Gold is also used in infrared shielding, colored-glass production, gold leafing, and tooth restoration
Only 10% of the world consumption of new gold produced goes to industry, but by far the most important industrial use for new gold is in fabrication of corrosion-free electrical connectors in computers and other electrical devices
Lead metal has several useful mechanical properties, including high density, low melting point, ductility, and relative inertness
Lead is widely used for car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing, weights for lifting, weight belts for diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in some solders
The largest use of lead in the early 21st century is in lead–acid batteries
The lead in batteries undergoes no direct contact with humans, so there are fewer toxicity concerns
Lead is used in high voltage power cables as sheathing material to prevent water diffusion into insulation; this use is decreasing as lead is being phased out
A lead is widely used as a gamma shield
A lead is widely used as a gamma shield
Major advantage of lead shield is in its compactness due to its higher density
Major advantage of lead shield is in its compactness due to its higher density
On the other hand depleted uranium is much more effective due to its higher Z
Depleted uranium is used for shielding in portable gamma ray sources
Gold and Lead – Comparison in Table
Element
Density
Ultimate Tensile Strength
Yield Strength
Brinell Hardness
Vickers Hardness
Melting Point
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat
Heat of Fusion
Heat of Vaporization
Home » Material Weights and Measures
Weight of Metals & Alloys • Complete Metal Density Chart
Metal Densities in Metric and US Units
By Roof Online Staff • Last updated September 26, 2022
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Copper Panels
Copper weighs 896 grams per cubic centimeter
Weight of Metal vs
Weight of Metal vs
Density of Metal
Density of Metal
Weight is the heaviness of a particular thing; the weight of an object is the measurement of the force acting on the object due to gravity
Since weight is a property inherent in a specific object, it doesn’t strictly make sense to talk about the weight of a substance (like iron) in the abstract
To state the weight of something, there needs to be an object to state the weight of
Density can be loosely defined as the weight per unit of volume, so the objects that we’re stating the weight of in the table below can be thought of as cubes of metal the size of the given unit of volume (one foot cubed, one inch cubed, one meter cubed, and one centimeter cubed)
For example: “500 pounds” is a weight value
“500 pounds per cubic foot” is a density value
So, you can see that the values given in our table are technically metal densities, since we express the values as weight/unit of volume
We called this web page “Weight of Metals and Alloys” instead of “Densities of Metals and Alloys” to make it easier for people to find what they were looking for on the internet
A lot of people search for “weight of metal” when they actually mean “density of metal”
About This Metal Weight Chart
About This Metal Weight Chart
The following table provides typical values for the weights (densities) of elemental metals and alloys with industrial applications
Generally, the weight of metals (or density of metals, to be precise) that we list were calculated from the values provided by sources such as the Encyclopedia Britannica or the National Institute of Standards and Technology that we consider to be reliably authoritative
The values for the weights of alloys were taken from manufacturer technical data sheets and are the actual weights of specific, representative products
In all cases, the weight of metals we provide are meant to provide a general idea of what the various metals weigh, and should not be used if precise values are needed for critical engineering calculations
When precision is necessary, always refer to the data sheets of the actual, specific product you intend to use, or contact the technical department of the product manufacturer or material provider
All of the metal weight values we show are the density values for the metals at room temperature
Table: Weight of Metals and Alloys
Table: Weight of Metals and Alloys
Weights of Metals with Industrial Applications(Metal Density in US Units and Metric)
Metal
Pounds perCubic Footlb/ft³
Pounds perCubic Inchlb/in³
Kilograms perCubic Meterkg/m³
Grams perCubic Centimeterg/cm³
Aluminum
Bell Metal(Bronze, 22% Tin)
Beryllium Copper
Brass
Bronze(Aluminum Bronze)
Bronze(Phosphor Bronze)
Bronze(Silicon Bronze)
Cast Iron
Copper
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gunmetal(Red Brass)
Iron
Lead
Lead
Lead
Lead
Silver
Tin(White Tin, Metallic Tin)
Uranium
Wrought Iron
Metal Roofing: Useful Information GuideMetal Roofing Product ManufacturersWeight of Dimensional LumberWeight of PaversWeight of Plywood and OSBWeight of Pressure-Treated LumberWeight of Sheet Steel
Gold is one of the most popular metals in the world for it’s wonderful uses
But how does it shape up compared to other metals?
Throughout this article we are going to discuss how Gold is heavier than ten other metals, with examples and useful information for you
So then you will know how great Gold is and how dense it is
Table Of Contents
Table Of Contents
Is Gold Heavier?Is Gold Heavier Than Silver?Is Gold Heavier Than Lead?Is Gold Heavier Than A Diamond?Is Gold Heavier Than Iron?Is Gold Heavier Than Brass?Is Gold Heavier Than Metal?Is Gold Heavier Than Rock?Is Gold Heavier Than Aluminium?Is Gold Heavier Than Copper?Is Gold Heavier Than Fake Gold?
Is Gold Heavier?
Despite the fact that it is a soft metal, gold is actually quite a heavy material
It is heavier than a lot of other metals because of its density, which is 193 grams per cubic centimeter, making it almost 20 times as heavy as water
The weight of gold is best observed when it is compared with other materials, and the difference between the weights is, more often than not, very noticeable
The atoms that make up gold are what makes it such a heavy material
The average atomic weight of a single gold atom is 197 amu, which translates to 197 grams when measuring a chemical entity
All metals are made up of atoms, so the weight of an individual atom quickly adds up with all the other atoms within a substance and gives it a solid weight
Of course, the weight of gold differs depending on how much you have
For example, a single gold coin will not weigh as much as a chunky gold necklace, but the density of gold per cubic centimeter will never change
It is easy to weigh gold yourself, or have a professional jeweller weigh it for you to tell you the value
The value of gold is determined by its weight, as any other metal or material is
So, the more gold you have, the heavier the weight and the higher the value
However, gold is considered more valuable than other precious metals, such as silver and bronze, so a certain amount of gold will be worth more money than the same amount of silver or bronze will
Lots of large objects are created using gold, so the density of the material makes them even heavier
The weight of lots of gold together is sturdy and strong, as well as being worth a lot of money
However, carats play a huge part in the monetary worth of gold as well, which is why lots of small pieces of jewellery, such as rings and bracelets, can cost thousands and thousands of dollars on their own, especially if gemstones are also used
Gold is a precious metal that lots of people would like to get their hands on
Any product or item made of gold will have some weight to it, even if just part of the item is gold
It is difficult to mistake real gold for any other material specifically because of its density, though gold is also famous for its shininess, its brightness, and the fact that it doesn’t tarnish or rust
Is Gold Heavier Than Silver?
Gold is a heavier material than silver because it has a much higher density, but gold can actually appear smaller despite this
For instance, a 2-ounce bar of gold will look smaller than a 2-ounce bar of silver, but when you pick them up, the gold bar will be heavier
In reality, gold is almost two times heavier than silver
Silver has a density of 1049 grams per cubic centimeter, which makes it much lighter than gold
The two materials are similar due to the fact that both of them are soft metals and both are rare and valuable, but gold is more sought after for its increased monetary value
But silver has a very good monetary value too
At the end of 2021, one troy ounce of silver was trading for $2230, allowing people to build up a decent amount of money depending on how much silver they had
Gold, on the other hand, was estimated to be worth $1,700 per troy ounce in 2021, so, though silver is valuable, gold is more valuable and has the added benefit of being denser too
More weight equals more money, so gold is an obvious monetary favourite
Gold is a lot heavier than lead because it is so much denser
Lead has a density of 1135 grams per cubic centimeter, making it slightly denser than silver, but almost half the density of gold
Lead is also a soft and fairly malleable material, so it is popular for use in products like paint, pencils, pipes, ceramics, and cosmetics
Gold and silver are attractive metals that work well for things like coins and jewellery, but lead is often used as a purely practical material
Its density works in its favour, but it feels much lighter than gold when you compare the two
Because of this, gold might be the preferred material for products that need to be heavier because its density will always be higher than the density of lead
Is Gold Heavier Than A Diamond?
A diamond will always weigh less than gold because diamonds are pretty lightweight gemstones and gold is one of the heavier natural materials
Both diamonds and gold have a high monetary value, which is why both of them are commonly used in jewellery
Diamonds are composed from carbon, so their structural designs lend them a lightness that gold doesn’t have
Diamond weighs approximately 35 grams per cubic centimeter, making it just a fraction of the 193 grams per cubic centimeter that gold weighs
Diamond is then crafted into many smaller diamonds which are perfect for decorating larger materials, such as gold
The weight of a diamond differs depending on how big it is and how many carats it is, though the same can be said of gold, which will always be heavier overall
Is Gold Heavier Than Iron?
Gold vastly outweighs iron because of how many more protons and neutrons it has in its nucleus
In fact, a single iron atom weighs around a quarter of the weight of a gold atom
The density of iron is approximately 79 grams per cubic centimeter, making it less than half the density of gold
Like lead, iron is a very useful material, though it is not used in attractive jewellery products like gold, silver and diamond are
The lightweight density of iron makes it perfect for use in manufacturing, and around 90% of all refined metal is iron
Though it may not be heavier than gold, iron has its uses and it is a very easy material to get your hands on
Is Gold Heavier Than Brass?
Gold is a much heavier metal than brass, weighing more than twice as much
Brass has a density of 85 grams per cubic centimeter, so you can easily tell the difference between a gold product and a brass product by lifting them both up
The brass product should feel significantly lighter to lift than the gold
Brass is an attractive looking material, but it is very cheap when compared with gold as well
Density plays a part in that because a higher density of a valuable material means that it is worth more money, but brass is very useful and quite accessible because of its price
Brass is similar to gold in that both materials are durable and fight against potential damage, but gold has the benefit of being heavier and, subsequently, more capable of resistance
Is Gold Heavier Than Metal?
Gold is a metal itself, but it is heavier than the majority of other metals
One common metal is steel, which has a density of between 775 grams per cubic centimeter and 805 grams per cubic centimeter
The density of steel ranges between those two numbers depending on how its atoms are alloyed, but steel will always weigh less than gold
Gold is often not thought of as a metal because it is such an attractive and shiny material, but it is classed as one just as steel is
Metals all differ in their densities, with gold falling very much on the heavy side and steel edging closely towards the lighter end of the scale
Both steel and gold are practical and malleable materials, which is why you see so much of them in different products and items with lots of different uses
Is Gold Heavier Than Rock?
Rock has a reputation for being very heavy, but pure gold has a much higher density than other rocks and minerals that exist
The majority of rocks and minerals range from 2-4 grams per cubic centimeter, making gold more than 15 times as heavy
Some examples of different rocks are their densities are quart (density of 265 grams), calcite (271 grams), fluorite (318 grams), graphite (223 grams), halite (216 grams), and garnet (35-43 grams)
Gold exists in rock form as gold nuggets, which can actually be worth more money than gold bars depending on the size and rarity of the nugget
A lot of the time, gold is crafted into other objects, such as jewellery, coins, electronics, and ornaments, but it can always be compared with other rock materials
Diamond might be the hardest known mineral, but gold is one of the heaviest, and it is even more clear when you weigh gold alongside other rocks and minerals
Is Gold Heavier Than Aluminium?
Aluminium is a much lighter material than gold, and it is recognisable by the fact that it is so lightweight
It is among the lightest of the metals, weighing 27 grams per cubic centimeter
Aluminium is a very malleable material and you can find it in plenty of different everyday products and items
The low density of aluminium serves it well, especially for use in building materials, just as the high density of gold works well for items that are composed of gold
Aluminium atoms are very light, which is why aluminium is included in a group of seven metals on the periodic table known as the “lightest metals”
These seven metals (aluminium, lithium, sodium, magnesium, beryllium, calcium, and potassium) are the first metals on the table, and all of them have similarly low densities
Is Gold Heavier Than Copper?
The density of copper is less than half the density of gold, so you’ll definitely be able to tell the difference when lifting both materials
The exact weight of copper is approximately 89 grams per cubic centimeter, but it is still a perfectly malleable and resistant material
Copper is an excellent metal for things like wiring, construction, and machinery because it is light and easy to move about
Unlike gold, copper is much easier to tarnish, especially when it is exposed to light and water
The weight of gold makes it tougher, so copper requires more care to avoid damage
Copper is a reactive metal and gold is not, so gold has other qualities besides its weight that also make it one of the best metals to use in creating new things, particularly if you don’t want your items to be easily influenced by other substances
Is Gold Heavier Than Fake Gold?
Fake gold is called fake gold for a reason, and it will almost always weigh less than real gold
Sometimes, fake gold products are bigger or chunkier than real gold products, which can be deceptive, but real gold is heavier than almost all other materials, so you should be able to figure it out by density
A lot of the time, fake gold products will feel lightweight and cheap, though they can be very well made
If you are comparing a fake gold coin and a real gold coin, for instance, the fake coin might have a larger diameter, but the real gold coin should be heavier when you pick it up
Remember, gold has a high density, so a small amount of gold will feel heavier than the same amount of fake gold
If the fake gold coin has been deliberately made bigger than the real gold coin, this is an indicator that the size has been enlarged to try and match the weight of a real gold coin
Gold has the advantage of a high density because its weight makes it both unique and valuable
Even well-made fake gold is not comparable to the real thing, so always use the density of the material to help guide you
If you feel a solid weight when you lift it, the metal is most likely real gold
Although used for different applications, gold and lead are classified as heavy metals
Gold is used extensively in the jewelry industry whereas lead is used in car batteries, pigments, ammunition, weights for lifting, and others
Although both gold and lead are heavy metals, they have different properties and attributes
They differ from each other in many aspects, for instance, density, weight, and scope of application
Owing to the extensive use of these metals in everyday life, many people want to know more about them and what sets them apart
One thing that distinguishes them from each other is their weight
Let’s answer a significantly debated query, is gold heavier than lead?
Gold is heavier and denser than lead
Albeit heaviness is not a measurable quantity, however, density has a vital impact on the heaviness of an object
Similarly, gold and lead have different densities, by comparison, lead is less dense than gold
The atomic weight of the lead is greater than the gold, however, gold atoms are more closely packed together than the lead atoms
Similar to the gold vs silver weight, the heaviness is due to a higher density
Gold is one of the densest substances on earth, however, there are many other substances with far greater densities
For instance, the core of our sun has a calculated density of 115 times that of water, almost 6 times greater than gold
Coming to the subject matter, gold is considerably heavier than iron despite the fact that lead has a higher atomic weight
Densities of Gold and Lead
As mentioned above, both gold and lead have different densities
The density of different substances is relative to water, the water has 1 g/cc of density and weighs 83 pounds per gallon
In comparison, the density of gold is 193 times greater than water and weighs 160 pounds per gallon
In contrast, lead has a density of 1134g/cc, therefore, the given volume of gold is heavier than the same volume of lead
Gold is quite heavier than lead and remarkably dense, nearly twice as much as lead
It is easy to understand the weight difference between gold and lead when looking at their densities
Interestingly enough, although gold has a higher density, lead leads the race for atomic weight
However, density contributes significantly to making gold heavier than lead
Gold vs Lead Weight
As it is perfectly clear by now which metal is heavier between the two, it would be interesting to know about the atomic weight of these two metals
Each individual lead atom is heavier than the gold because they have a greater mass per atom
The atomic number of lead and gold is 87 and 79 respectively which means that lead has more protons and neutrons in the nucleus than gold
Moreover, the mass of a gold atom is 197 atomic mass units and that of a lead atom is 207 atomic mass units
There is a considerable difference between the atomic weight of these metals
Additionally, they share a similar face-centered cubic crystal structure, however, the lattice parameter (about spaces between atoms) is larger than gold
It makes the lead atoms more massive but less dense
On the contrary, gold atoms are closely packed and have a greater mass density
Gold has more weight than silver even
To sum up, gold is known for its malleability and high density which makes it heavier than most metals, including lead
Although lead leaves behind the gold in atomic weight, gold is superior to lead in terms of density and heaviness
Alba Mavis
Alba java is a gemology research writer
She has written many research papers on gold mining, cleaning, and processing
Alba has 3 years of experience covering Jewelry design, CAD processes, and Business news