I've been using AP to create Copper II Chloride for the purposes of etching copper from e-scrap since mid 2003.
I posted a ratio chart on the forum comparing the various gold solvents (which came from another science article) in February of last year. The chart is here:
And here's the original document where the chart comes from:
Source of Gold Solvent Chart
The above article is dated August 2005, so if your e-book is newer than August 2005 it's not the original source of the data. I'd be willing to bet the e-book chart looks just like the one I posted.
In my opinion, the real power of AP is not it's gold dissolving ability, it's the ability to form Copper Chloride. Copper Chloride is the workhorse of the reaction.. if the AP is dissolving gold, you are using it for the wrong purpose in my opinion. If you want to know more about the chemistry of AP and CuCl2 you need to read the documents on my website (ie: CuCl2 Etchant)
I liken AP's use for dissolving gold to this analogy:
You can use a pocket knife (AP) to remove a screw (dissolving gold), but a screwdriver (AR) works much better. The knife does a much better job of cutting (forming CuCl2).
AP is the mix that kick starts the copper II chloride chain reaction that makes it useful for escrap recovery. The fact that CuCl2 can be rejuvenated is a definite advantage to using for this purpose.
As OMG suggested, the AP reaction has been around since the dawn of man, it's the application of the reaction that has evolved. I think it's impossible to discern exactly where the reaction was discovered.
I made my method of AP use known to other individuals in mid 2004.
There are loads of copy cats out there looking to make a buck. If someone tells you they invented it, they are more than likely lying as they would have to be hundreds (maybe even thousands) of years old. :lol:
Steve
