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DIY Test for Gold

Gold is amongst the most valuable of all precious metals. It has held its value over the years, even in an economy that is on the decline. Gold jewelry is often coated over or mixed with other metals, making it difficult to discern real gold from fake gold. Complicating the process even further, there are metals, such as pyrite, that look similar to gold. The look-alikes and mixtures do not have the same physical and chemical properties as real gold does, so tests can be performed to see if the metal is real gold.

Things You'll Need

Pin
Razor blade
Acid

Instructions

- 1
  Wear the gold. If discoloration occurs on the skin, then the metal is not real gold or has a very small gold composition.
- 2
  Look at the gold. The gold should not be overly shiny. It should look "soft yellow" as opposed to a sparkly metal.
- 3
  Press a pin through the gold. If the pin breaks, it is not real gold. Gold is malleable and ductile and will give way to the pin.
- 4
  Cut a small portion of the gold off with a razor blade. Drop the gold into hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. The metal that does not dissolve is gold.
- 5
  Take the gold to a local jewelry shop. The jeweler will have an X-ray to examine the gold.

Gemology