Gold Testing with Acid: Understanding the Results - Is Your Gold Real?

Question
Hi, I have an old gold chain and I bought a kit test that contains nitric acid and muriatic acid to see if my chain is real. I took it the acid and I put it on a piece of the chain. The color turned sort of red. I waited about ten minutes. Then I took soap and I washed it with soap and water after rinsing it out for about three minutes. The necklace is intact. The red came out. It looks like my regular gold chain. Is it real, How can I tell?

Answer
HI NATALIE,

WHAT ACID DID YOU USE? IF IT WAS THE NITRIC THAT CHAIN WOULD HAVE BEEN TOAST IF IT WAS NOT GOLD. THE RED COLOR IS FROM THE COPPER ALLOY IN THE GOLD BROUGHT OUT BY THE ACID. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE KARAT RATING OF THE CHAIN. OR LOOK AT THE QUALITY STAMP ON THE JUMP RING. GOOD LUCK

PETER