Question

"The density of gold is 19.32." Give two reasons why this statement is incomplete.

Answer 1

Well, the most obvious is that it's missing a unit. 19.32 what? However, anyone with the least bit experience in the chemistry of the elements would assume units of g/cm^3, and would recognize that 19.32 g/cm^3 is in the right ballpark for gold. It's a heavy metal, and a density about 20 times water and 4 times rock sounds about right. If you were in rapid conversation with somebody about transition metals, you could easily make this statement without anyone being confused. But you wouldn't say it in a formal paper.

Not sure what else is sub-par. In principle you should maybe specify the temperature and pressure, but the density of gold doesn't vary much with those. You could specify solid gold, but again anyone with a passing familiarity with the elements knows gold is solid at most temperatures of interest.

Answer 2

thank you :)