Microwave Magnetron - Checking for Gold

[rusty]

As I write this the metals in my AR solution are being precipitated, an interesting observation.

When I remove the copper wire there is enough solution on it to react, the reaction I'm going to gamble on is photosensitive and not a reaction to air.

The wire comes out bright and shiny then gradually an inky blue film forms that gradually turns darker. If you have the patience to watch the short youtube video you will see the change taking place.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vbuvxh-49Q[/youtube]

This picture shows just how dark the inky blue film becomes after exposure.

 

[qst42know]

So do you figure there is enough to go after or just enough to satisfy your curiosity?

 

[rusty]

So do you figure there is enough to go after or just enough to satisfy your curiosity?

Enough of what.

How do I place value on an unknown substance.

The pictures below are the precipitate from the AR.

 

[rusty]

From the remaining solution, I diluted a bit in a test tube with water then added 8 drops of DMG - no visible reaction.

Next I poured some of the reaming solution onto a filter paper then added stannous, instantly turned green. Same results using a Q-Tip.

Here is a short youtube of the reaction. No gold in microwave just some palladium to the sputtering target from inside the copper vacuum tube. I have not conducted any tests to see if there is anything beyond silver in the contact. The weather is warming up, no more time to play the summers are too short to waste.

I've enjoyed doing these little experiments.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlaxJ8gx-z0[/youtube]

 

[Barren Realms 007]

You might want to go bck nd try the test again, I don't think you used enough test solution and it might need a couple more drops to get a better test result. Uh I do. :mrgreen:

 

[rusty]

You might want to go bck nd try the test again, I don't think you used enough test solution and it might need a couple more drops to get a better test result. Uh I do. :mrgreen:

Yea I thought I was short on using the DMG myself and added about 12 drops to be sure, anyhow I went outside a moment ago to check on the test tube and here is what I found.

The DMG has reacted with something in the solution turning it inky blue. Does anyone here have an idea what would react with DMG to give this color.

 

[patnor1011]

DMG was dissolved in isoprophyl alcohol. Maybe alcohol reacted with something in there?

 

[Harold_V]

The DMG has reacted with something in the solution turning it inky blue. Does anyone here have an idea what would react with DMG to give this color.

I routinely got an inky blue reaction when washing cemented silver that came from tungsten bearing contacts. I'd wash with HCl, which instantly developed the color. I have no clue if or why DMG is responsible for the color you see.

I almost never tested in volume. There's nothing you can determine in a test tube that can't be determined by a single drop in a spot plate cavity.

Harold

 

[lazersteve]

There are lots of metals that will make blue solutions.

Yours looks dark blue to me, I'd guess it may be cobalt, no guarantees though.

Steve

 

[NoIdea]

Evening All – I know this an old post, but it sort of ended….

Have you tried the borax bead test, Cobalt is the only metal I can find that gives a blue positive for the hot and cold test.

Deano

 

[copycat]

This is not brass, too shinny. I compared some PCI gold fingers to them. Match exact in color.

 

[Auggie]

There are minute amounts of silver (in the keypad mylar) and sometimes gold (in the PCBs as copycat points out) in microwave ovens, but for the most part they are copper (transformer, and you will find the magnetotron has a nice slug of copper in it if you cut one open) and steel mines. I'm surprised rusty was able to find palladium in the magnetotron, but I would gather it's not enough to even lick off.

The old microwave ovens sometimes have large gold-laden mylars, and the really old ones sometimes even have phenolic PCBs with gold plating for where the keypad buttons are pushed.

 

[jimdoc]

you will find the magnetotron has a nice slug of copper in it if you cut one open)

Watch for beryllium in the magnetron, you don't want to cut into anything with the hazards of beryllium dust. It wouldn't be worth it for precious metals let alone copper.

Jim