How to test gold using an Acid test kit

In this post, learn how to test gold with acid and stone at home, which works by using an acid solution to detect gold.

Various acid testing kits are available, including those that use different acid strengths to identify gold purity.
For this video, I used a simple kit with one acid and a touchstone to determine if a gold item is real. It works for testing 14-karat gold and higher and can also be used for silver testing.

🛑 IMPORTANT – Tips to take precautions before you begin:
Perform the test in a well-ventilated area and wear protective gloves. Avoid testing jewelry with gemstones or pearls, as acid can damage them.

🔍 Step-by-Step Guide:

Prepare the Gold: Clean your gold item thoroughly to ensure accurate testing results.

Rub Your Gold on the Stone: Gently rub your gold against the touchstone to leave a gold streak on the stone.

Apply Acid Solution: Apply a drop of the solution with your desired acid strength to the gold sample.

Observe Reaction: Watch for any changes in color or dissolution of the gold surface.

Interpret Results: Based on the reaction, determine the purity of your gold item.

💡 How to interpret results:

Dissolved Scratch Marks or Color Change: Suggests fake gold or lower purity.

No Change: Indicates real gold or higher gold purity.

💧 Post-Test Care: Rinse the touchstone thoroughly with water to remove any residual acid, so you can reuse it. Buff your gold with a jewelry polishing cloth to keep it shiny and scratch-free.

📌 Tips: Acid testing provides a surface-level assessment. For precise results, use multiple testing methods. Also, this method can scratch your gold, so use other less damaging methods if you don’t want minor scrapes.

If you don’t have an acid testing kit for gold, you can try using other methods to test gold at home. Watch these gold testing videos.