Is it Gold? Testing Gold with the Acid Test Kit
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- I recently found what I thought might be a gold ring while metal detecting at a local beach. The ring was quite heavy, with no signs of corrosion, but without a visible hallmark.
It passed the magnet and the vinegar test, so the next step was to use an Acid Test Kit.
I'm no expert on using this kit, but based on my findings (confirmed by a jeweler), it looks like I did OK!
0:25 💡 He mentions he has never used an acid kit before and explains its purpose.
1:08 🔍 He explains how other metals are mixed with gold to create different karat values.
1:36 📊 Lists common gold karat values and their corresponding gold percentages.
2:23 🪙 Shows various rings he found while metal detecting, sorted by suspected gold content.
3:49 🧪 Describes the acids used in the test: 10, 14, 18, and 22 karat nitric acid.
4:08 💵 Mentions the cost of the kit and its components.
4:56 🧫 Explains the testing process: scratch gold onto a stone and apply acid to determine purity.
5:55 🪛 Begins the test by scratching the first ring on the test stone.
7:02 🪙 Scratches subsequent rings, noting the differences in the lines they leave.
8:52 🧪 Applies the 10, 14, 18, and 22 karat acids to the scratched lines.
10:13 🔬 Observes the reaction, noting that the silver line has mostly disappeared.
11:11 🕵♂ Discusses initial results, indicating different gold purities based on acid reactions.
12:03 💍 Identifies one ring as likely being 18 karat gold based on the acid test results.
12:54 🧪 Notes that the 22 karat acid ate away all non-gold impurities.
great video thanks for sharing
Thanks for the video! When you took the mystery ring to the jeweler, did they confirm 18K?
It was 14k according to the jeweler.
What does it mean if the lines for 14k gold fade a lot and turn reddish?
Likely the object is gold plated, and the base
Metal is a copper alloy.
I have a kit still not great at it..have a presidium gem tester too that's come in handy.
Diamond testers are good too
The acid kit is a bit hit and miss, but it gives you a rough idea of what you have. I’ve also been thinking I should get a diamond tester.
@@coilsandcoinsdetecting diamond testers are great the presidiums are even better but exy ..
I buy and resell stuff used profits to buy mine did same for my detector
What about if the jewelry is marked 14k but is suspected of being plated brass? Should a person remove the plating first with a file and then test it or is plating thin enough to be of no concern?
If you suspect the jewelry is gold plated, scratching it on the stone should reveal the base metal beneath the plating. Good quality plating can be a little harder to remove, but a scratch test is usually sufficient. If you don’t want to scratch the jewelry, you can try the displacement method to determine how much gold is in your jewelry, but it takes some equipment to do this accurately. Taking it to a reputable jeweler is probably the better option here.
@@coilsandcoinsdetecting actually took a file to it and it's yellow inside like gold or brass and no other colors or color changes. Should it be tested where it is filed?
@@todddenio3200 look at the region where you filed it under a loupe or magnifying glass to see if you can pick up a line of colour difference. If not, then it’s likely gold. If you can do a rub on the stone where you filed it, this might verify it.
@@coilsandcoinsdetecting thank you
@@coilsandcoinsdetecting I had bought some Jewelry at an estate sale and the woman said it was fake even though it wasn't bought by her but by the one who died. She said it was magnetic but only one side of the clasp is magnetic and that's where the spring is. It has Italy and 14K stamped in it. I just want to make sure and test it
Great video Steve!
How do you clean the stone with all the scratchings on it for future tests?
Glad you liked the video! To clean the stone you use a little bit of the 22k acid and spread it over the scratchings and leave it for an hour or so.
Really interesting, have just been wondering about these kits so thanks. Now why do you wear gloves when digging in dirt but no gloves when handling acid? 😂😂
@@PParks6973 that’s a really good question - 😂. I wore gloves when I cleaned the stone after the video, but probably should have worn them during the video too… 😩
What if your scratch doesn't dissolve but the lines get darker?
What if about 30 seconds after applying the 22 karat acid it starts to dissolve the sample?
If the 18k acid doesn’t dissolve it after 2 mins, but the 22k dissolves it after 30 secs, then it’s more likely to be 18k. I’d say if the 22k acid hasn’t dissolved the sample too much after 2 mins then it’s more pure than 18k…
@@coilsandcoinsdetecting well that's weird these are 1 oz American eagles. they're supposed to be 22 karat 🫤
@@1986subway unfortunately it’s not an exact science and open to interpretation. 22k gold coins should be 22k, however there is always a small margin of error I guess. The only way to know exactly what karat they are is to have them scanned with an XRF Scanner (high end gold dealers and jewellers use these).
Anyone know what it means if I test something and it leaves a solid line from where I scratches but while the acid is on it there's very tiny bits of gold/metal dust that floats in the acid but like I said it's very little on this particular piece and after I neutralize I can see the line from where I scratched in tact....any input would really really be appreciated
I have two questions.
Is it true you first have to pop a hole in the opening before using?
And the colors of the caps look very old when I got them, also the wrap on top was brown and it was leaking. Is this normal?
There are many different kits, and they’re likely packaged differently. I didn’t need to put a hole in the top of the bottles - I simply unscrewed the cap and they were ready to go. The acids can weaken over time if they’re not kept in a cool, dark place, so it’s possible they’re old and haven’t been stored correctly? Do the acids react when you put a drop on a scratched gold line at all?
How to make this acid solution
You can buy these test kits online.
@@coilsandcoinsdetecting yes
May I know where we can buy the solutions or the kita?
Confusion one by one check it
You contaminated all solutions with 22k acid .
I must have missed something. How did he contaminate all of the solutions?
Hey, mister. You can really talk. I have no idea what you are talking about. Finally, you start showing how the testing is done. But you never stop talking. You are pretty sloppy also. Keep knocking everything down. Well, thank you anyhow......
Well thanks for watching - I think…