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Acid Test is a metallurgical or chemical process in which acid is used to recognize the material quality that is present in mineral samples and rock. It is any qualitative metallurgical or chemical test that uses acid historically and regularly. The use of strong acid is to identify gold from the base metals. For some attributes, the acid test is a figuratively definitive test.
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Keyterms: Acid, base, metals, rock, minerals, hydrochloric acid, carbon dioxide, nitric acid, aqua regia, gold, corrosion, oxidation
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Examples of Acid Test
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Through the acid test, the rock that consists of carbonate minerals is identified. Suppose on a mineral or rock, if a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid is placed and wait for the release of the bubble of carbon dioxide gas. The bubble signs the existence of carbonate minerals that exist in minerals and rock.
Acid test is used to test gold with acid concentrates. Gold is a noble metal and is resistant to change by acid, corrosion, or oxidation. The acid test is applied to rub any colored gold item on a black stone which will leave a visible mark. By applying aqua fortis, this mark is tested known as nitric acid which, except gold, dissolves the mark of all colored gold items. Otherwise, it dissolves if the remaining marks are tested by applying aqua regia (nitric acid and hydrochloric acid).
Heat and Acetic Acid Test
Ingredients and Apparatus Required For Acid Test
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Below are the ingredients and apparatus that is required to perform the acid test are mentioned:
- Set of mineral samples like azurite, lodestone, amethyst, pyrite, calcite rose quartz, talc (8 number).
- One bottle of vinegar
- Steel nail
- Pencil and Paper
- Eyedropper
- Magnifying glass
- Cup (Non-reactive metal)
- Paper towel
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How to Perform Acid Test Experiment?
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The steps to perform the acid test experiment to spot separately the minerals are mentioned in the below points:
Step 1: Under different headings, make columns on the piece of paper with the words like Powder, fizz, and sample.
Step 2: With the sample heading on the left side of the paper, write the mineral samples name i.e., calcite, pyrite, etc.
Step 3: Pour a small amount of vinegar into the cup that is provided, which can be taken with an eyedropper later.
Step 4: On the paper towel, put the mineral sample of your choice, and to pour a drop of vinegar on it, use the eyedropper.
Step 5: Look closely at the mineral to see the result of the chemical reaction 'Is the vinegar fizzling. If the result is yes, then write 'Yes' or else write 'No' under the fizz column.
Step 6: If vinegar does not give the purposeful result of fizzling, then by using a steel nail scratch the mineral sample. If there is no effect on the mineral, then under the column named powder, write the mineral being 'too hard.' The scratch if in case produces some mineral powder, then on the mineral powder pour a drop of vinegar.
Step 7: With the help of magnifying glass, see if the mineral is fizzing or not, and under the column 'powder' write the result either yes or no.
Step 8: For every other mineral sample, follow the same pattern.
Read More: Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking Powder
Results of Acid Test
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Firstly, let us see the outcome of minerals that have calcium carbonate. In the first attempt, such minerals will directly fizz. If at the molecular level, there are minerals with a close connection with calcium carbonate as one of the important components, they have to be powdered to look over the differentiation between minerals. Thus, it is one of the easiest and best ways where one could mark the differentiation between these minerals.
In contact with acid, carbonate minerals are unstable. When acid starts to fizz on a specimen, a similar reaction to the one that is shown below takes place.
CaCO3 + CH3COOH → Ca(CH3COO)2 + H2O + CO2
Things to Remember
- An Acid test is defined as a metallurgical or chemical process in which acid is used to recognize the material quality that is present in mineral samples and rock.
- It is any qualitative metallurgical or chemical test that uses acid historically and regularly.
- The use of strong acid is to identify gold from the base metals.
- For some attributes, the acid test is a figuratively definitive test.
Read More: Weak Base
Sample Questions
Ques. Name the acid that is present are Vinegar, Tomato, and Tamarind. (1 Mark)
Ans. The acid that is present in vinegar is Acetic acid, in Tomato is Oxalic acid, and in Tamarind is Tartaric acid.
Ques. What are the differences between Bases and Acids? (2 Marks)
Ans. The differences between Bases and Acids are that when acid is dissolved in water it gives off hydrogen ions whereas when bases are dissolved in water it gives off hydroxyl ions. In acids, the blue litmus paper turns into red color whereas in bases the red litmus turns blue color. The taste of acid is sour whereas bases have a bitter taste.
Ques. Mention five properties of Acids. (2 Marks)
Ans. The five properties of Acids are:
- Acids are said to be a good conductor of electricity.
- In nature, acids are corrosive.
- The pH values of Acid are always less than 7.
- They are also sour-tasting substances.
- The solution is acidic in nature if the blue litmus paper turns into red color.
Ques. What kind of test is used to determine whether a solution is a base or an acid? (3 Marks)
Ans. A simple chemical test known as a litmus test is used to determine whether a solution is a base or an acid. We can identify with the use of litmus paper whether a solution is basic, neutral, or acidic.
In the solution, if the red litmus turns blue color then it is basic in nature, if the blue litmus paper turns into red color then the solution is said to be acidic in nature, and if the color does not change then it is said to be neutral in nature. By the use of a pH scale, we can also determine the solution. The solution is neutral if the pH is 7, if the pH is less than 7, it is said to be acidic, and the solution is basic if the pH is more than 7.
Ques. What are the uses of acids? (3 Marks)
Ans. The uses of acids are mentioned in the below points:
- Citric acid is used for the preservation of food.
- A diluted solution of acetic acid, vinegar is used for various household applications. It is mainly used for the preservation of food.
- Sulfuric acid is mostly used in batteries, The batteries that are used to start the automobile engine often consist of sulfuric acid.
- Phosphoric acid is used in many soft drinks.
- Industrial production of dyes, paints, fertilizers, explosives uses nitric and sulfuric acid.
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