How Do You Quickly Identify Metals? Eg. silver, platinum ect

[steveonmars]

If the silver test acid you are looking at is the same as being offered with the gold test acids its not Schwerter's solution.

Thanks for the heads up. Where do I find the real Schwerter's solution then?

Steve

 

[Harold_V]

If the silver test acid you are looking at is the same as being offered with the gold test acids its not Schwerter's solution. It is for testing "Sterling silver" it will not indicate if an item contains silver.

That may not be true. The gold test kits with which I was familiar did include potassium dichromate (which makes Schwerter's solution) for testing base metals along with silver. There were three dropping bottles, each of which contained specific test solutions. If the color of the solution resembles mercurochrome, and is made with an orange salt (potassium dichromate), nitric acid and distilled water, it is, indeed, Schwerter's.

The presence of silver will be indicated by the solution turning color, with pure silver yielding a blood red reaction. As the silver content subsides, the reaction will be a less vivid red color, leaning towards brown. You are not concerned with the color on the surface of the material after the test.

When all else fails, if you must test for silver and you don't have Schwerter's, a drop of nitric acid will turn the surface of silver a cream color, and the solution will remain colorless. The resulting solution will precipitate silver chloride if salt of HCl is introduced. If the silver is alloyed, given a little time, the color of the drop of nitric will shift towards a green color, getting bolder until the acid has been consumed.

Harold

 

[Oz]

Back in the day some 30 years ago at the markets I used to haunt buying and selling they did test with dilute nitric checking the surface of the item as to texture and color both before and after the acid was washed off. Having said that, Schwerter's solution is the way to go.

Just because they did not know better does not mean you need to follow in thier footsteps.

 

[Harold_V]

Back in the day some 30 years ago at the markets I used to haunt buying and selling they did test with dilute nitric checking the surface of the item as to texture and color both before and after the acid was washed off. Having said that, Schwerter's solution is the way to go.

Just because they did not know better does not mean you need to follow in thier footsteps.

Nitric can serve to make tests to a fairly reliable degree, although I would not recommend one make purchases on the strength of the test results. That applies to gold, of course. Silver can be tested reliably with Schwerters, assuming you have enough experience with the reactions. It's a good idea to test various alloys to become familiar with the color reactions, which turn more towards brown as the silver content diminishes. Some of the Scandinavian countries have silver standards that are much lower than sterling. I processed flatware that was marked 720, or 72% silver.

Fact is, ten karat and lower will react to nitric, leaving the surface a darkened brown color. That's the results of dissolving traces of alloy, leaving behind the partially divided gold. 14 K and above will remain unchanged aside from being well cleaned. I already described the effects nitric has on silver, so, yes, nitric alone can be very telling, especially when you've made countless tests and are able to interpret the results.

The nice thing about Schwerter's is it tells no lies. You need not interpret anything----if you see red, you know you have silver. The only remaining test would be to file a notch in the item and test for base metal (silver plating instead of solid silver). Schwerters will serve for both tests. That's the reason it is included with gold testing kits. You can test for base metals in gold filled and plated items.

I agree-----that others fail to use good and accepted procedures is no reason for others to fail to do so.

Harold

 

[Oz]

Harold,

They were not all that experienced nor educated. Those teen years were some of the fondest times of my life, I would go to a huge market and buy from one vendor and sell to another. One time I made gas money and food for me and my gal and a movie after on only one transaction 2 booths apart. The funny part was after I had an agreement as to the price of the item I was selling, the buyer informed me that it was contingent on an acid test. He needed his friend to do it for him as he did not have a test kit. His friend was the man I bought it from after having him test it in front of me before I put my cash down.

I only wish I could find a market like that still around knowing what I do today. There would be little reason to refine, just trade.

 

[qst42know]

This is what I have. Bought with the gold "K" test acids. The silver acid is the only acid with color it's not red at all but somewhat purple. On sterling it leaves a white spot. On plate over nickel silver the solution turns blue/green, plate on brass it lifts the plate right off.

Its possible Schwerters won't stay in these cheap LDPE plastic bottles?

If you are looking to detect the presence of silver this is not the solution.

 

[Harold_V]

I agree----that is not Schwerters-----but it shows definite signs of being nitric acid, which is evidenced by the color remaining after the test, the light cream color I mentioned.

I have no idea why the solution is discolored--although it may be intentional. Also, take note that nitric acid turns dark with exposure to light.

Harold