Gold has always been a popular investment and collectible item, but the market is flooded with counterfeit products. These fake items not only cost people money but can also be harmful to health if they contain toxic substances. To help consumers distinguish real gold from fake, CCTV's "The Original" program conducted an episode called "True or False Gold," using scientific methods to teach people effective ways to identify genuine gold.
Gold is one of the most fascinating metals on Earth. Its chemical symbol, Au, comes from the Latin word "Aurum," meaning "gold" or "golden." The total amount of gold in the Earth is estimated at around 4.8 billion tons, but over 99.7% of it lies deep within the Earth’s core and mantle, making it impossible to mine. Only a small fraction exists in the Earth’s crust and seawater, and more than 90% of that is extremely difficult to extract. This scarcity makes gold very valuable, so even small fluctuations in its price can greatly affect consumers.
To test the authenticity of gold, many people have developed their own methods, but not all of them are reliable. The original experiment showed that some of these common beliefs have a scientific basis, while others do not.
**Bite Test: A Mark Means It’s Real?**
During the show, a guest bit into pieces of gold, copper, and silver, leaving visible tooth marks on all three. However, this method isn’t reliable. Gold, silver, and copper all have low hardness levels compared to human teeth, which means they can easily leave marks. The Mohs hardness scale shows that gold has a hardness of about 2.5–3, while human teeth range from 6 to 7. Therefore, biting into any of these metals would leave a mark, regardless of whether it’s real gold or not.
**Color Test: The Brighter the Yellow, the Better?**
On the show, guests believed that the yellowest necklace was the real one. But when tested using a touchstone, the results showed that real gold doesn’t have a different color from fake gold. Experts explained that gold’s natural color is golden yellow, but other elements can be added to change its appearance. Without proper testing, it’s impossible to tell the difference just by looking.
**Weight Test: Heavier Is Better?**
Guests were asked to judge the authenticity of jewelry based on weight. They thought the heaviest piece was real gold. However, professional testing revealed that the lightest piece was actually real gold, while the heaviest was made of copper. This shows that weight alone is not a reliable indicator of gold’s authenticity.
**Fire Test: No Change Means It’s Real?**
In a factory, gold was burned at over 1,000 degrees Celsius. Real gold glowed brighter, while fake gold turned black. After melting, the weight remained the same, proving that real gold doesn’t lose mass. Experts confirmed that pure gold won’t oxidize or change color when heated. However, they warned against doing this at home due to the high risk involved.
While burning gold is scientifically valid, it’s not recommended for everyday users. For accurate results, professional equipment is the best choice. Consumers should rely on certified experts rather than unverified methods.
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