A 2-column table with 3 rows. The first column titled metal has entries aluminum, iron, lead. The second column titled density (grams per cubic centimeter) has entries 2.64, 7.50, 11.34.

Question

You have discovered a meteorite that seems to be metallic. Its mass is 370 g, and you calculate the volume to be 50 cm3. Based on the three values provided, which metal would most likely match the composition of the meteorite?

aluminum
iron
lead
none of these (density is less than 1.0)

Answer 1

To determine which metal most likely matches the composition of the meteorite, we need to calculate the density of the meteorite based on its mass and volume.

The formula for density is:

\[ \text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}} \]

Given:

• Mass of the meteorite = 370 g
• Volume of the meteorite = 50 cm³

Now, we can calculate the density:

\[ \text{Density} = \frac{370 \text{ g}}{50 \text{ cm}^3} = 7.4 \text{ grams/cm}^3 \]

Now, we will compare this calculated density to the densities of the three metals provided:

• Aluminum: 2.64 g/cm³
• Iron: 7.50 g/cm³
• Lead: 11.34 g/cm³

The calculated density of the meteorite (7.4 g/cm³) is closest to the density of iron (7.50 g/cm³).

Thus, the metal that most likely matches the composition of the meteorite is:

Iron.