Which physical property can be used to distinguish gold from pyrite?

• A. Melting point
• B. Density
• C. Color
• D. Hardness

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that gold and pyrite (fool's gold) can look similar in color, so color alone is not a reliable way to distinguish them.
2. Consider melting point: both substances have different melting points, but this property is not commonly used for quick identification because it requires heating the sample to very high temperatures.
3. Look at hardness: gold is a soft metal, while pyrite is harder, so hardness can help differentiate them, but it may require specific tools to test.
4. Focus on density: gold has a much higher density than pyrite, meaning gold feels significantly heavier than pyrite of the same size.
5. Conclude that density is the most practical and reliable physical property to distinguish gold from pyrite in typical identification scenarios.