vinegar is fine if you are worried about carbonates, muriatic acid (HCl) is strong stuff so be careful, but yes it will react with MOST metal ores to release Hydrogen gassrc said:I've heard that vinegar isn't a good test, and to be sure you have to use muriatic acid to test for metals.
hc8719 said:you'd test with HCl?
i used that in chemistry...ate through a penny,
enough said
src said:Second, muriatic acid isn't straight HCl - it's 30% HCl, 70% water, and still tricky to handle, but it's not going to "eat through a penny" unless you leave the penny in a jar of it for a good long while. HCl is the same acid you have in your stomach - swallow a penny and see what happens.