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How to Use Muriatic Acid on a Ruby Stone

Muriatic Acid, otherwise know as hydrochloric acid, is a solution of hydrogen-chloride gas dissolved in water. It is sold in hardware stores and places where pool chemicals are sold. Although it's sold for home use, the Centers for Disease Control considers this highly reactive substance among the most dangerous chemicals sold for home use. While it should be used with extreme caution, muriatic acid can be used to effectively remove resistant mineral coatings on gemstones such as a ruby.

Things You'll Need

Safety goggles
Rubber gloves
2 Large plastic containers
Stirring spoon
Old newspaper
Baking soda
Distilled water

Instructions

- 1
  Cover an area outside of your home with newspaper. It's best to work outside because the fumes from the muriatic acid should be vented.
- 2
  Pu on safety goggles and rubber gloves to protect your eyes and hands from getting burned if acid splashes. You should also wear old clothing that leaves you well-covered.
- 3
  Put the ruby to be cleaned in one of the large containers. Fill the other container nearly to the top with distilled water.
- 4
  Pour muriatic acid over the ruby you are cleaning until it is completely covered. Let it sit and check after five minutes. If it still has mineral deposits, leave it in the acid and check frequently.
- 5
  Remove the ruby from the acid with a spoon and put it in a dish with baking soda. The baking soda will neutralize the acid. Leave the stone in the baking soda for about 15 minutes.
- 6
  Take the ruby out of the baking soda and put it in the bucket of distilled water. Leave the ruby in the bucket for triple the amount of time as it was in the acid because the acid does penetrate the stone and will need to be soaked out.
- 7
  Dry your ruby with a soft microfiber polishing cloth.

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