Among the following common metals, which one has the highest density and is therefore the heaviest metal?

Introduction / Context:
The term heaviest metal in everyday chemistry questions usually refers to the metal with the greatest density among a set of familiar metals. Density is defined as mass per unit volume and determines how heavy a substance feels for a given size. Gold, silver, iron and copper are common metals with different densities and uses, and comparing them helps learners associate physical properties with elements on the periodic table. This question asks which of the listed metals is the heaviest in terms of density, not in terms of total mass of a given object.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The metals to be compared are gold, silver, iron, copper and aluminium.
• We are considering density at room temperature and normal pressure.
• Heaviest means highest density, so more mass is packed into the same volume.
• We assume standard physical data as found in school level tables.

Concept / Approach:
Typical densities of these metals at room temperature are roughly as follows:

• Gold: about 19.3 grams per cubic centimetre.
• Silver: about 10.5 grams per cubic centimetre.
• Copper: about 8.9 grams per cubic centimetre.
• Iron: about 7.9 grams per cubic centimetre.
• Aluminium: about 2.7 grams per cubic centimetre.

From these values, gold is clearly the densest and thus the heaviest for equal volumes. The correct approach is to recall or estimate these densities and pick the metal with the largest value, which is gold.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that aluminium is a very light metal, used where low weight is needed, so it has much lower density than the others. Step 2: Iron and copper are moderately dense structural metals, but their densities are still lower than those of the so called heavy metals like gold and silver. Step 3: Silver is denser than iron and copper, but its density of about 10.5 grams per cubic centimetre is still significantly less than that of gold. Step 4: Gold has a very high density of about 19.3 grams per cubic centimetre, making it much heavier than the same volume of the other listed metals. Step 5: Therefore, among the options provided, gold is the heaviest metal by density.

Verification / Alternative check:
Density tables in physics and chemistry handbooks list gold as one of the densest common metals, surpassed only by a few less familiar elements such as osmium and iridium. When jewellers compare weights of jewellery pieces, gold items feel much heavier than silver or copper items of the same apparent size. Experiments where students compare equal sized metal blocks also demonstrate that gold or lead blocks are heavier than iron or aluminium ones. These observations and reference data confirm that gold is the densest metal in the given list.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, silver, is dense and heavy but has only about half the density of gold. Option C, iron, is less dense than both silver and gold and has density around 7.9 grams per cubic centimetre. Option D, copper, has density slightly less than iron and is used for electrical wiring and coins. Option E, aluminium, is the least dense of all and is considered a light metal used in aircraft and packaging. None of these match the very high density of gold, so only option A is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that metals used in heavy machinery, such as iron, must always be the heaviest metal. Others may think of silver as very heavy because of its name and appearance. To avoid confusion, remember that gold is famous not only for its value and colour but also for its very high density. A simple way to remember this is to think of how small a gold bar can be for a given mass compared with bars of other metals. Recognising gold as exceptionally dense will help you answer similar questions quickly.

Final Answer:
Among the listed metals, the heaviest by density is Gold, which has a much higher density than silver, iron, copper or aluminium.