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What metal makes up ten percent of yellow gold?

Question #108203. Asked by nibbles0011.
Last updated Dec 25 2016.

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looney_tunes star
Answer has 7 votes
looney_tunes star
19 year member
3290 replies avatar

Answer has 7 votes.
According to this jeweller's site, "yellow gold is made by mixing pure gold with alloy metals such as copper and zinc." But the percentage of each metal depends on the balance - the relative amount of gold is measured in carats. 18ct gold (the highest usually used for jewelry) contains 75% pure gold; 24 carat gold has no alloy mixed in, but is too soft for really fine jewelry - you could mash it out of shape with your bare fingers (and a fair amount of effort)! 22 carat gold would have 8.3% alloy.

link http://gilletts.com.au/information.php?info_id=39

According to the diagram in this article, yellow gold is approximately 10% silver.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold

Aug 22 2009, 4:28 PM
queproblema
Answer has 9 votes
Currently Best Answer
queproblema
18 year member
2119 replies

Answer has 9 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
There is apparently no hard and fast formula for yellow gold; it seems to be more an art than a science. Various amounts of copper, silver, zinc, and other metals are added. Pure gold, of course, is naturally yellow. That would be 24 karat, 100% gold. If you're looking at gold that is 90% pure, the closest standard in 22 karat.

"24 Karat Gold Jewelry, where 24 of the 24 parts are gold, 99.99% fine gold.  22 Karat Gold Jewelry, where 22 of the 24 parts are gold and 2 parts are one or more additional metals, making it 91.7% gold."
link http://goldprice.org/gold-jewelry/2005/12/24-karat-gold-jewelry.html

This says copper and silver are added:
"Yellow gold is alloyed with copper and silver for extra strength...The concentration of yellow in yellow gold is influenced by its content. The larger or purer the karat, the brighter and deeper the yellow will appear. Pure 24 karat gold, gold that has no alloys mixed in, would thus be the deepest of the colors."
link http://www.since1910.com/education/precious-metals/gold-education.aspx



Response last updated by gtho4 on Dec 25 2016.
Aug 25 2009, 8:28 PM
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