[Rockhounds] Axel and kryptonite

[Pmodreski at aol.com]

Hi Axel, and one more "welcome back" too,
 
I think that "specific gravity" is a fairly archaic term, that just happens  
to be the name that was adopted for this quantity 'way back when.
 
"Specific volume" is in fact a regularly used term, for volume per unit  
mass; the inverse of density.  "Density" is the accepted term though, one  just 
never hears "specific mass" used, though it could well have been.
 
P.S., (Kreigh), I don't know that one can really predict (with any  accuracy) 
the density of an unknown hypothetical superheavy element, just from  the 
atomic number or atomic weight--i.e., kryptonite.  For example,  osmium, iridium, 
and platinum, sp. gr. 22.6, 22.4 and 21.45 respectively,  are the densest 
known elements, though they are only at. no. 76, 77, and 78; as  compared to 
uranium, americium, and californium, densities 20.2, 19.84, and  15.1, though with 
higher at. no.'s  92, 95, and 98.
 
(see _http://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/density.htm_ 
(http://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/density.htm)     )
 
and P.P.S., as soon as I dig it out, I should take & circulate a  picture of 
MY FAVORITE real (I have it & can hold it in my hand) but  non-natural 
(artificially made) specimen, a clear chunk of uranium-bearing  glass, vivid 
yellow-green and fluoresces to beat the band, even from the  longwave UV in daylight, 
and is my best ever candidate for a for-sure kryptonite  look-alike.  I bought 
it decades ago from a pile of it at the Deming Agate  Shop (no longer exists, 
I've looked).  I always get a kick out of showing  this to school classes as 
part of a fluorescence demonstration.
 
Cheers,
Pete



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