Hello summer heat! By now, you’re probably seeking the comfort of swimming pools, popsicles, and cool beverages to fight off the blistering sun. In fact, sometimes being out in the summertime makes you feel just like you’re going to melt!
Fortunately, cold water and air conditioning usually does the trick. But the rising temperature has made us think about melting metals, since it’s such a key part of the refining process. Did you know that each metal has a unique melting point? And by the way, a melting point is the temperature a metal must be exposed to before it liquifies.
Here are some melting points for the most common precious metals, from lowest to highest.
- 14k Gold: 1,615℉
- Sterling Silver: 1,640℉
- 10k Gold: 1,665℉
- 18k Gold: 1,700℉
- Pure Silver: 1,761℉
- 24k Gold: 1,945℉
- Copper: 1,981℉
- Palladium: 2,831℉
- Platinum: 3,224℉
As you can see, the melting points of various gold and silver purities are pretty comparable. And palladium and platinum require much higher temperatures before they’ll melt.
For reference, an average house fire burns at about 1,112℉, so the heat needed to melt precious metals is quite substantial. That being said, bullion can still undergo damage in the event of a fire, so it’s recommended that you store them in a fireproof/waterproof safe (if you choose to store metals at home).
What’s your favorite cold treat on a hot summer day? Commenting below will serve as your entry for our July giveaway. But remember to keep it classy; inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by July 29, 2018. One winner will be randomly selected on July 30, 2018 to receive a 2018 Silver Krugerrand from the South African Mint.
Good luck and stay cool this summer!
Long Island Ice Tea with lots of lemons wedges squeezed into it.
Hawaiian Shaved Ice – Half Guava & Half Coconut Flavor. Awesome treat on a HOT day!!!!
Cold beer.
High quality H2O.
Chilly 750ml bottle of pranqster ale!
Ice tea with loads of ice !
A cool crisp WORD from the Lord and oh yeah a routine 44 cranberry slush!!!
Sweet tea and dairy queen blizzards
Home made ice cream
Ice cream
A medium strawberry snow cone with chopped pickle and cool-aid powder on top from the snow cone place in Grand Prairie, TX!
i scream for Ice Cream!!! 😉
A tall glass of lemonade. Real lemonade, not that minute maid junk, I’m talking lemon, water and sugar. Delicious
Tomato cucumber and basil salad from the garden.
Give me a cold Dr Pepper
A very large glass of cold water.
There’s only one way to beat the heat and that’s in my back yard pool! Of coarse nothing refreshes more than a Margarita!
Root beer float with vanilla soft serve ice cream.
Staying cool on a hot day: while you’re mowing the lawn and getting off the mower and jumping in the pool with your clothes on. Now that’s staying cool. LoL
Italian spaghetti ice cream.
I never get used to Arkansas summer`s! 102 degrees in the shade now.
Being from the South, I have always enjoyed an ice cold Root beer float!
Ice cold beer. And not the junk beer of my parents generation but a good craft beer.
Thai iced coffee!
Home grown watermelon and freshly made lemonade by the pool!
A cold twisted tea
A lemon ice slush from the street vendor lady in downtown Charleston, SC.
Blended lemonade.
Being grateful I am alive to experience the heat while living in a free country where I can travel to cooler places and enjoying a caramel latte.
Long island ice tea