Gold question

[IgorTs]

Why do we call 10 karat gold a gold? There is only 30-33% of the gold, not even a half. Just because it's yellow?

 

[samgau]

Since pure gold is 24 karats... therefore each karat is about 4.16 % .. so 10 Karats should be 41.6 % gold.... or I may be totally wrong..

actually looks like im partially right...explanation

 

[IgorTs]

Still less than half, it means whatever metal is there it's not a gold!
Let's say I mix 40 liters of pure alcohol with 60 liters of water. What will I get: water? NO! Alcohol, NO! I will get vodka.
So why mixing 40 % of gold with silver and copper will give a gold? It should have some other name.
Got an idea?
Text

 

[CStroman]

Let's call it overpriced.

 

[samgau]

Well... I don't think i've ever heard anything less than 24 Karat gold to refered as pure gold.... you know what I mean... so the other name is 10 Karat gold... even though it doesn't make total sense...

 

[johndoe52]

Well then someone explain white gold to me. If you're buying gold wouldn't you want the "yellow" kind? In any case I'd perfer silver or platinum.