International Prototype Kilogram Essay

The current standard for the kilogram is the International Prototype Kilogram. The International Prototype Kilogram, also known as Le Grand K, is a platinum-iridium bar made in the 1880’s. This official Kilogram is kept in a vault in Paris under two glass domes. The reason it is under 2 glass domes it to prevent dust from obstructing from the weight of the Kilogram. However according to Sandia National Laboratories, a government organization under the Department of Energy, “Of the seven units of measurement in the International System, or SI, the kilogram is the only base still defined by a physical object. In addition, copies of the kilogram have changed over time by either gaining or losing weight as compared to the standard kilogram.”(DOE/Sandia …show more content…
The process is to expose the kilograms to ultraviolet light and ozone about once per decade and rinse with pure water to remove dust particles. “Peter Cumpson a metrologist at Newcastle University tested the process using prototype metals, including gold, stored under conditions similar to the British national standard. The ultraviolet light-ozone treatment removes hydrocarbon contamination that has built up on the metal surface, gunk that comes from the emissions of an industrial society.”(Wired). This process will diminish the Carbon Dioxide contaminate. However it will not move the more stubborn contaminate of Mercury. Some of the kilograms were held in labs that contain mercury based thermometers and therefore were exposed to Mercury. The reason why it is very difficult to remove is because mercury forms a strong metallic bond with platinum. So this method of cleaning would help make the kilogram more accurate but it wouldn’t make it a true and absolute standard value of measurement. This process of cleaning the kilograms would solve the short term problem but comes nowhere close to solving the long term problem of the kilograms differentiating from each