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Video: How to spot fake metals with acids
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Acids are reactive, with even weak acids like vinegar interacting with other materials to wow students.
But strong acids can really put on a show. For example, aqua regia, or royal water, is a mixture of two strong acids—hydrochloric and nitric acids - that can dissolve gold, a noble metal.
This reaction can be put to use. Watch as Reactions employs some acid know-how to explain a chemistry detective story to sort real gold from its imposters:
Provided by American Chemical Society