HYDROCHLORIC ACID TEST

An Acid test is a chemical or metallurgical process where acids are used to identify the quality of
material present in rock and mineral samples.

The rocks containing carbonate minerals are identified by the acid test. In this process, a drop of dilute
(5-10%) hydrochloric acid is placed on a rock or mineral and watched for bubbles of carbon dioxide gas
released. The bubbles signal the presence of carbonate minerals present in the rock and mineral.

Let us see how minerals change when we put acid on them

a) Apparatus And Ingredients Required To Perform The Test

Below are the equipment and materials required to conduct the acid test to spot minerals separately.

(i)The mineral sample.

(ii)HCL/Vinegar (one bottle).

(iii)Steel nail

(iv)Paper and Pencil

(v)Magnifying glass

(vi)Eyedropper
(vii)Paper towel

(viii)Cup(Non-reactive metal)

b) How To Perform The Experiment

Let us understand the different steps that need to be followed to successfully carry out the acid test to
spot the minerals separately. Steps are as follow

Step 1: On the left edge of the paper with the sample heading, write down the name of mineral samples
like pyrite, calcite etc.

Step 2: Pour a little vinegar ( Vinegar typically contains 5–8% acetic acid by volume) into the cup provide
which you can take later with an eyedropper.

Step 3: Keep the mineral sample of your choice on the paper towel and use the eyedropper to pour a
drop of vinegar (acid drop) on it.

Step 4: Look at the mineral closely and see the outcome of the chemical reaction like the vinegar fizzling.
If it is, write Yes under the column of fizz or else write No.

Step 5: If the vinegar didn’t give the intended outcome of fizzing, use a steel nail and scratch the mineral
sample. If there is no impact on the mineral, write the mineral being “too hard “under the column
named powder. If in case the scratch produces some mineral powder, put a drop of vinegar on the
mineral powder.

Step 6: With the magnifying glass, see whether the mineral is fizzing or not and write the outcome being
a yes or no under column

Step 7: Follow the same pattern for every other mineral sample.

c) Results of the acid test

Let us first look at the results of minerals which have calcium carbonate in them. Such minerals will fizz
in the first attempt. If there are minerals with close bonding at the molecular level with calcium
carbonate as the main component, they need to be powdered to check the difference between
minerals. This is one of the easiest ways where one could spot the differences between these minerals.

Carbonate minerals are unstable in contact with acid. When acid begins to effervesce (fizz) on a
specimen, a reaction similar to the one shown below is taking place.

CaCO3 + CH3COOH → Ca(CH3COO)2 + H2O + CO2

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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Why is it called the acid test?

The rocks containing carbonate minerals produce effervescence by the reaction of hydrochloric acid or
acetic acid. The gold is dissolved in aqua regia which contains a 1:3 ratio of HNO3 and HCl. These
substances are identified by the reaction of acid so it is called acid tests.

Q2

How can you test gold at home without acid?

Take a piece of unglazed porcelain and rub the gold item against it. If it leaves a black streak, the
material is not gold. If it leaves a golden yellow streak, the item is gold.

Q3

Does gold float in water?

Gold does not dissolve in water. It is hydrophobic in nature.

Q4

How can you tell if a substance is acidic?

By the use of litmus paper, we can identify if the solution is acidic, basic or neutral. In the solution if the
blue litmus paper turns red then the solution is acidic in nature if red litmus turns blue then the solution
is basic in nature and if does not change then neutral in nature. We can also identify by the use of the
pH scale as one practical way of quantitatively determining how acidic something is. If the pH of a
solution is less than 7, it is acidic. If the pH is 7, the solution is neutral and if the pH is greater than 7, the
solution is basic.

Q5

What is the strongest acid on earth?

Fluoroantimonic acid is the strongest super-acid on earth. It is 20 quintillion times more acidic than
100% sulfuric acid

Test your knowledge on acid test!

Q5

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