Understanding the Purity of Gold: Its Methods and Tools

 

Gold has been used in jewellery, currency, and investment for thousands of years. The value of gold is determined by its purity, measured in karats or fineness.
Whenever you buy gold, you will be asked if you need 22-carat or pure gold. 24 carat gold is the purest form. It means there is no other metal other than gold. It is 100% gold. But how will you understand? There are some methods and tools by which you can measure. We will discuss the methods and tools we use to measure the purity of gold.

Some methods and tools by which pure gold can be measured
Gold is very valuable. So we must know how we can measure pure gold. Here are some methods and tools that are discussed below.

●    Carat vs fineness:

Carat is a measure of the purity of gold that is widely used in the United States and other countries. One carat is equal to 1/24th of the gold's weight. Therefore, 24-carat gold is considered 100% pure, while 14-carat gold is 58.3% pure. Carat is indicated by a number followed by "k" or "kt." For example, 18-carat gold means 18 parts gold and six other metals.

Fineness is another measure of the purity of gold commonly used in Europe and other parts of the world. It is expressed as a percentage and indicates the amount of pure gold in the alloy. For example, 999-fine gold means that it is 99.9% pure gold.

●    Acid Testing:

Acid testing is a widely used method to determine the purity of gold. It involves using nitric acid, which reacts with the metal alloys in the gold to produce a colour change.

The acid testing kit consists of a set of nitric acid solutions of varying concentrations, a touchstone, and a set of needles made of different materials, such as gold, silver, or copper. The gold is rubbed against the touchstone, leaving a streak, and a drop of nitric acid is applied to the streak. The resulting colour of the streak is compared to the acid testing chart, which shows the purity of gold.

●    X-ray fluorescence:

X-ray fluorescence is a non-destructive method of testing the purity of gold. It uses X-ray technology to measure the amount of gold and other metals in the alloy. The XRF machine directs an X-ray beam at the gold, which causes the atoms in the metal to emit fluorescent X-rays. The machine then detects these X-rays, and the amount of gold and other metals in the alloy is determined.

●    Fire assay:
Fire assay is a method of testing the purity of gold that has been used for hundreds of years. It involves heating the gold in a furnace to separate it from the other metals in the alloy. The gold is then weighed and compared to the weight of the original sample to determine its purity.

Assay offices and refiners commonly use the fire assay method to determine the purity of gold bullion and coins. However, it is a time-consuming and expensive method that requires specialised equipment and trained professionals.

Conclusion:
As gold is very expensive, we must be aware when we buy it. Every piece of gold has value, but buying pure gold can help you in the future. You can get gold loans from the bank. But you need pure gold to avoid problems when you invest or if you want to get a loan. If you are buying gold, try to buy pure gold. This will give you a safer future.