Question icon
11 grade chemistry others

Gold and silver are used to make jewellery.

Reason: Gold and silver are highly inactive metals. Therefore, they do not undergo corrosion due to attack by moisture and atmospheric gases.

  • A. Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
  • B. Both assertion and reason are correct but reason is not the correct explanation for assertion.
  • C. Assertion is correct but reason is incorrect.
  • D. Both assertion and reason are incorrect.

Profile image of Aniket Singh
11 Months agoGrade
Answers icon

1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer11 Months ago

To address your question about the use of gold and silver in jewelry, let's break down the assertion and the reason provided. The assertion states that gold and silver are used to make jewelry, while the reason given is that these metals are highly inactive and do not undergo corrosion due to moisture and atmospheric gases.

Analyzing the Assertion

The assertion is indeed correct. Gold and silver have been cherished for centuries in jewelry making due to their aesthetic appeal, malleability, and resistance to tarnishing. Gold, in particular, is known for its lustrous yellow color and does not tarnish, making it an ideal choice for jewelry.

Understanding the Reason

Now, let’s examine the reason. While it is true that gold is a noble metal and highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, silver is not as inert. Silver can tarnish over time when exposed to sulfur compounds in the air, leading to a blackish layer of silver sulfide. Therefore, the claim that both metals are "highly inactive" is misleading when applied to silver.

Evaluating the Relationship

Given this analysis, we can conclude the following:

  • The assertion is correct: Gold and silver are indeed used in jewelry.
  • The reason is partially correct for gold but incorrect for silver, as silver can tarnish.

Final Conclusion

Based on the evaluation, the best choice would be C: Assertion is correct but reason is incorrect. Gold is highly resistant to corrosion, but silver does not share the same level of inactivity, which makes the reason provided insufficient as an explanation for the assertion.