http://finejewelrybid.com/i-would-like-to-know-if-any-other-metal-tests-like-gold-on-an-acid-tester/ Sat, 20 Nov 2010 04:14:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 http://finejewelrybid.com/i-would-like-to-know-if-any-other-metal-tests-like-gold-on-an-acid-tester/comment-page-1/#comment-4728 Goldista Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:00:15 +0000 http://finejewelrybid.com/i-would-like-to-know-if-any-other-metal-tests-like-gold-on-an-acid-tester/#comment-4728 The term - acid test - comes from the way gold miners would test whether their findings were real gold nuggets. Unlike other metals, gold does not corrode in acid; if the nugget didn't dissolve when submerged in acid, it was said to have passed the acid test. Since gold resists acids that corrode other metals, the acid test was used for metals purporting to be gold. ACID TESTS FOR GOLD. Acids used are mostly nitric acid, a dangerous material to handle. A gold looking item is rubbed on a flat slate piece to put some of the metal on the slate. A piece of metal we know is gold is also rubbed on the slate. The acid is placed on both rubbings and the colour is compared. The acid will dissolve the rubbing from the unknown item if it is not gold. If it is a lower karat than the “known” piece, the colour will be darker from the acid than the mark from the known piece. Acid tests are a matter of comparing what you know is gold(and the karat) to items you do not know about. IS IT GOLD? Perhaps the best way to really know is to let a jeweller test the chain, using either an acid test or a newer electronic testing device. There is not a practical way to tell if an item is gold or the karat at home unless the acid or electronic tests are used. To answer your question: There is no other metal which pass the acid test like gold. The term – acid test – comes from the way gold miners would test whether their findings were real gold nuggets. Unlike other metals, gold does not corrode in acid; if the nugget didn’t dissolve when submerged in acid, it was said to have passed the acid test.
Since gold resists acids that corrode other metals, the acid test was used for metals purporting to be gold.
ACID TESTS FOR GOLD.
Acids used are mostly nitric acid, a dangerous material to handle. A gold looking item is rubbed on a flat slate piece to put some of the metal on the slate. A piece of metal we know is gold is also rubbed on the slate. The acid is placed on both rubbings and the colour is compared. The acid will dissolve the rubbing from the unknown item if it is not gold. If it is a lower karat than the “known” piece, the colour will be darker from the acid than the mark from the known piece. Acid tests are a matter of comparing what you know is gold(and the karat) to items you do not know about.
IS IT GOLD? Perhaps the best way to really know is to let a jeweller test the chain, using either an acid test or a newer electronic testing device. There is not a practical way to tell if an item is gold or the karat at home unless the acid or electronic tests are used.
To answer your question: There is no other metal which pass the acid test like gold.

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