Testing gold at home requires a gold test kit. (Note: You could also experiment with an electronic gold tester. Even as a professional gold buyer, though, I relied on the simple acid test kit) The kit contains assorted small bottles of nitric acid - diluted to various strengths. The kit also contains a small black test stone.
There are two main gold tests that involve the acid test kit: the scratch test and the destructive test. In most cases the scratch test is sufficient The destructive test digs deeper into the gold item, below any possible plating.
SCRATCH TEST
1. Scratch an edge of the item against the test stone. Scratch back and forth a few times as if you were erasing pencil marks, but more forcefully.
2. Drip a drop of gold testing acid (10K, 14K, 18K, or 22K) onto the streak you left behind (from the scratch).
3. Judge the purity by the acid reaction:
A. Acid bubbles green = not gold.
B. Streak disappears = not gold
C. Streak turns brown = gold item is lower karatage than the chosen test acid
D. Streak remains the same = gold item is the same or higher karatage as the chosen test acid
For reaction C, test again with a lower karat test acid.
For reaction D, test again with a higher karat test acid (unless the piece clearly shows a katrata marking). For example, if the gold item is stamped "14K" and was unharmed by 14K acid, there is no need to retest with 18K acid.
DESTRUCTIVE TEST
1. Using a test file or the file from a Leatherman tool, file into the chosen item.
2. Then drip a drop of acid into the cut..
3. Determine the purity of the item according to the acid reaction.
A. Acid bubbles green = not gold
B. Test site/spot turns brown = gold item is lower karatage than the chosen test acid
C. Test site/spot remains unchanged = gold item is the same or higher karatage as the chosen test acid
You can learn more about acid test kits (and see a picture) and the testing process at the links below.
Yes you can . Fake Gold turns black and the real gold stays shinny.
There are many different factors that can "fool" any single test. Best is to take it to a pro.
ACID
Dip your balls in the bleach.
You can get a magnifying glass and if there are white or plastic colored specks its fake other wise its real
You can tell if you have a real gold necklace by checking its hardness, luster, specific gravity, streak, cleavage, and fracture, if all the properties match with the properties of gold you have a gold necklace.
acid test
You can use a magnet to test if the piece of "gold" is magnetic or not. Gold is not magnetic, so if it is attracted then it is not real.
Take it to see Money Mart, they can test it or find a gold test kit
if the metal sinks in water is is proof it is gold
Yes you can . Fake Gold turns black and the real gold stays shinny.
There are many different factors that can "fool" any single test. Best is to take it to a pro.
I heard that if you use a magnet and it's attracted strongly to the metal then is's not real gold?
ACID
Dip your balls in the bleach.
Yes Real solid white gold it is 18k+ and 21k in acid test !
You rub the edge on a rough brick wall, if it is grey or silverish under neath, it is not real gold , if it still looks gold underneath, that it OS most probably real