Even as a raft, of course, it could have been made from gold, or any element with a molecular number lower than mercury. Lead would still sink in mercury, but gold shouldn't. It was one number down the Periodic Table and so ought to float. Veppers looked over the side of the vessel at where his ingot of gold had entered the liquid metal, but it showed no sign of surfacing yet.
In the narrative, there is a discussion about the properties of materials in relation to their molecular structure and their behavior when placed in different substances. Specifically, gold, which is denser than mercury, should theoretically float due to its molecular weight being one number lower on the Periodic Table. This detail highlights the intriguing relationship between science and perception, particularly in the fantastical context of a raft made from gold.
As Veppers observes the gold ingot he has placed into the mercury, he is puzzled that it has not surfaced as expected. This scene illustrates the tension between scientific principles and the actual behavior of materials in a mystical setting, prompting questions about expectations versus reality. The situation serves to deepen the narrative’s exploration of the logic governing the universe created by Banks.
