Question

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 1

Whenever we give a gold ornament to a goldsmith for polish, he washes the ornament in the solution called aqua regia which is able to dissolve gold . so a thin layer of gold get dissolve in that solution and we find a shiny surface bcoz of the next layer. and only because a layer get dissolves in it, we find a difference in weight of the ornament.

Answer 2

Answer: Because it was dipped in aqua regia.

Explanation: To polish gold jewellery, goldsmiths dip them in an acid called aqua regia. This dissolves the outer layer of gold and thus results in weight loss.