Buying Gold This Akshaya Trithiya? Do These Tests To Check Its Purity

Investing in gold has been quite a popular option for people in India for centuries. It is considered to be a symbol of wealth, prosperity and good fortune. In the Indian culture, it is also gifted during weddings or special occasions. It is always a great idea to invest in physical gold by buying gold jewellery, coins and bars, which should be purchased from banks, jewellery shops and authorised dealers. However, investors must be cautious of fake or low-quality products before they buy.

On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Trithiya, people from across the country will flock over to jewellery houses to buy gold. But, before buying, there are a few ways one can check its purity.

The purity of gold is measured in carats, which is denoted with kt or k. 24-carat gold is the purest and contains 99.9 per cent gold, but it is quite soft and hence other metals are mixed to make jewellery. 18k gold contains 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of other metal, which means the jewellery will have 75 per cent pure gold in it.

These are a few easy tests to check the purity of gold-

Vinegar Test

You can do the vinegar test on gold. Just put a few drops of vinegar on a piece of gold and wait. If the colour changes, then it is impure and if it remains the same, then it is pure gold.

Magnet Test

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to check the purity of gold is by doing the magnet test. Metals have magnetic properties. However, gold is a non-reactive and non-magnetic metal. If you place real gold near the magnet, then it will not budge. However, if it sticks to the magnet, it means that the gold is not pure and is of low carat.

Acid Test

The acid test is one of the most reliable methods to check the purity of gold. Take hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and a stone. Rub the gold on the stone and add acid to it. If there is any metal other than gold, the acid will dissolve it.

Floating Test

Gold does not float in water as the atoms stick together and increase their density. However, if any other metal is mixed, the gold will begin to float.

Hallmark Logo

If you do not want to carry out any experiments, then check for the ISI Hallmark to determine its purity. A hallmark is a government mark placed on gold jewellery, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). If there is no hallmark, the purity of the gold can be questionable.