What acid will dissolve gold metal?

Answer:

Answer

Aqua regia, which is a mixture of two acids, will dissolve gold. Aqua regia is a mixture of concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl), usually in a 1 to 3 ratio respectively. Aqua regia is one of the few acids that will dissolve both gold and platinum as well as other metals. Interestingly, neither hydrochloric acid nor nitric acid alone will dissolve gold, but together, they will!

See the Web Links to the left for more information about aqua regia.

First answer by JEK. Last edit by JEK. Contributor trust: 2959 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 17 [recommend question].