###### Asked in Math and Arithmetic, Units of Measure, Weight and Mass
Math and Arithmetic
Units of Measure
Weight and Mass

# Which weighs more a pound of gold or a pound of lead?

###### 11/18/2016

While on the face of it a pound of lead would seem to weigh the same as a pound of gold, this overlooks the fact that gold is universally weighed using a different definition of 'pound' than that used for most other materials.

Precious metals such as gold are measured in troy weight. A troy pound is 12 troy ounces, and each troy ounce is 480 grains, making a total of 5760 grains to the pound of gold.

Most materials use pounds and ounces from the avoirdupois system, and such a standard pound is made up of 16 ounces, where each ounce is 437.5 grains, making a total of 7000 grains to the pound of lead.

All this means that a pound of lead (or bricks, or feathers) is heavier than a pound of gold. A pound.

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These explanations from above are not correct and unrelated to measuring of masses. Also the units are obsolete, non-SI.

A unit of mass is irrespective to the nature of the material weighed; so 1 pound (or kilogram) of gold is the same mass as 1 pound (or kilogram) of lead or any other material.