> chemistry > transition-metal-chemistry-complexes > how-does-aqua-regia-dissolve-gold-and-platinum-nurdrage

How Does Aqua Regia Dissolve Gold and Platinum?

NurdRage - 2022-12-31

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Clips from old videos featured in this one:

Gold Chemical Resistance
https://youtu.be/ng6DGwiKWag

Platinum Chemical Resistance
https://youtu.be/fro-L5gSyh4

Platinum bar dissolving in Aqua Regia
https://youtu.be/APxL87X92t4

Dissolve Platinum with chlorine gas
https://youtu.be/JFNtP2N2Eho

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@NurdRage - 2022-12-31

So this video is very different then most of my videos, rather than showing how to do something, i talk about why something happens. Do you guys like the format? Is my presentation technique okay? A lot of times, expaining why something is requires a very different style and approach then showing how to do something.

On a different note, this video had a funny origin: I was originally just trying to demonstrate dissolving platinum with electricity. Then during the video i answered why it worked with hydrochloric acid, but not sulfuric. Then i realized people would ask why it wouldn't work with nitric acid, and answered that. Then i anticipated that people would ask whether it would work with gold. Eventually, the whole video morphed into this long lesson about how all the acids interact in aqua regia. So i changed it from "dissolve platinum with electricity" to "How does aqua regia dissolve gold and platinum"

@piranha031091 - 2022-12-31

I do like that new format! ^^

@SwegRhino - 2022-12-31

As an incoming graduate student in chemistry, I love any explanations videos provide! I still clearly remember your explanation of ortho/para directing effects and hyper conjunction from your p-toluene sulfonic acid video when I was an undergraduate. Hope you do more of these!

@manickn6819 - 2022-12-31

Thanks. I have wondered this for ages since I learnt about aqua regia in school may moons ago.

@jonhu4127 - 2022-12-31

This is a really fascinating dive into why the chemistry works. I like it. Also, these kinds of teaching videos probably don't require a full lab but might help you fund the acquisition of the space and tools you need to get a new one set up. Sounds like a win-win to me

@redmadness265 - 2022-12-31

How to's do sound nice

@antozon5070 - 2022-12-31

In Germany, even at the university level, it is still being taught that the chlorine in aqua regia is in a 'nascent state' and that's why it can dissolve gold - same thing with hydrogen and dissolving-metal reductions. It's so frustrating to be taught a theory over a hundred years out of date! Even on wikipedia the english article states it is an obsolete theory while the german article acts as though it's still totally accurate. Thank you for correctly explaining the real reason in this video.

@roydunn2865 - 2022-12-31

Boyle felt the same. In some of his books he'd rant about how Alchemists taught him wrong, it was kind of funny .

@borttorbbq2556 - 2022-12-31

Yeah unfortunately the academic Community can sometimes be a little bit slow on the pickup. Sometimes they're quick sometimes it is agonizingly slow.

@SuperAngelofglory - 2022-12-31

surprisingly, the Wikipedia page in Romanian gives the correct explanation (I say surprisingly because here changes happen a lot slower than on the German pages most often)

@stefangadshijew1682 - 2022-12-31

This indeed surprises me a lot, isn't it clearly stated in Jander Blasius that it's the complexing action of chloride ions?
I learned it like that around 2005, so this is definitely not new information in german academia.

@Halal_Dan - 2023-04-01

Free college moment

@lithiumlight6128 - 2022-12-31

Babe wake up, NurdRage's dropped another video.

@csn583 - 2023-01-01

Tell me you have nothing to add to the conversation without telling me:

@JinMori07_ - 2023-01-10

@@csn583 who hurt you lmfao

@cxpKSip - 2023-01-20

But babe, it is midnight.

@ZozManGamer - 2023-03-22

I watch him since 2011

@jeffthechef69 - 2023-05-14

Oh my God I knew about this guy a decade ago I never knew he was still making videos thank you for existing still

@theCodyReeder - 2022-12-31

Great video!

@rawhamburgerjoe - 2022-12-31

Wooot! Hi Cody.

@IceBergGeo - 2022-12-31

Glad to see you're still around, Codydon!

@Pain-pr4rw - 2022-12-31

Here I am thinking that one of my favorite niche channels has put out a video, only to realize it can’t be niche if Cody is watching it.

@IceBergGeo - 2022-12-31

@@Pain-pr4rw with ¾ of a million followers, he's not that niche... ;)

@idothings6685 - 2023-01-18

@@Pain-pr4rw yeah man 800K subs, this guy is so niche.

@TAR3N - 2022-12-31

We missed you. Hoping 2023 is successful for you and your channel with hopefully plenty of new videos ! Could you make a oleum video. I spent a small fortune a few months ago on oleum and would be interested in seeing you find an efficient way to make it in the lab .

@NurdRage - 2022-12-31

Making small amounts of Oleum is not too hard for the amateur. but what do you need it for? It's viciously reactive and dangerous so i like to couple it with a use so it doesn't seem like i'm needlessly endangering life.

@Palmit_ - 2022-12-31

@@NurdRage i can't comment on the subject, i odnt know what it is lol. but simply a two or more part video?. up to the consumer to mix the parts.??

@EdwardTriesToScience - 2022-12-31

there are actually quite a few methods of oleum preparation in the lab, the most common being the dehydration of sulfuric acid with P2O5 to first form SO3 which is then dissolved in sulfuric acid, but it is costly due to the P2O5, a method which has been proven to work as well, and not on the difficulty of decomposing sodium pyrosulfate is using polyphosphoric acid prepared by boiling phosphoric acid for an hour, but the issue is that it eats your glassware and the phosphoric acid needs to be heated very strongly to have any dehydrating effect, this is something I have been trying to solve but I just could not get it right

@RaExpIn - 2022-12-31

@@NurdRage I used it to make iodine cations, which is quite interesting. And it can be used to make chlorosulfonic acid, which violently reacts with organic matter. Nevertheless, I get the point of "What's a good or reasonable use of it?"...

@stefangadshijew1682 - 2022-12-31

@@NurdRage Sulfonating electron-rich aromatic compounds should be a legitimate use. You could get pyridin-3-sulfonic acid with oleum at 320 °C , which I suggest nobody should do in their home lab. EDIT: Apparently, catalytic mercury(II)-sulfate makes this reaction less thermally and more toxically dangerous.
I'm reasonably sure that there are some water soluble coloring agents that are accesible by sulfonation with oleum. If you have any interest in actually persuing this, I could look some procedures up.

Oleum is quite interestingly dangerous. Have some ancient oleum around at work, I think I'll never have a need for it in my life.

@baylog9679 - 2023-03-22

I used to watch these videos like every day when I was in highschool back when you were making glow sticks and Nuka cola bottles and I completely forgot about this channel but it's really good to see you're still making videos to educate people and show them how cool chemistry actually is

@Osirus1972 - 2022-12-31

I am sitting in an assay lab at a palladium mine watching this video. I have samples digesting right now using aqau regia. Nice to now know how it all comes together. Great video. Cheers!

@Turbochargedtwelve - 2022-12-31

The mechanisms are quite fascinating, ive always found it easier to remember why something is than just the fact. Understanding is the best way to learn.

@MuzikBike - 2022-12-31

One demonstration I'd like to see is gold in aqua regia compared with silver in aqua regia. Given how aqua regia attacks gold, despite it being particularly un reactive, it'd be easy to assume that it'd react with silver even more violently, but that ultimately isn't the case due to the presence of chloride. It'd be another fun demo of chemistry's rock-paper-scissors nature.

@computercat8694 - 2023-01-01

Hi

@EddSjo - 2023-01-15

@@computercat8694 shut

@computercat8694 - 2023-01-15

@@EddSjo No u

@jannovak6987 - 2023-08-25

me too, please @NurdRage consider making a video of aqua regia on gold vs silver comparison

@yourfuneral - 2023-01-01

I like the ditailed walk through the thought process of answering the question in developing steps structure of the video,
and the visual presentation of consequences of statements.
I enganged in the video and learned something.

@markbell9742 - 2022-12-31

Thanks: A couple of years ago while working on my Wife's car (a used car) I found a mans gold band ring under the carpet. 'So go to the Pawn Shop; NO!' I reacted it with Aqua Regia and made a few grams of chloroauric acid, did several HCl boilings to get rid of the nitric acid and vacuum dried it. Now I have some nice canary yellow crystal. How can life be any better, Cheers, Mark
PS: Keep plugging

@edgeeffect - 2022-12-31

That's the best way to obtain expensive reagents... find them. :)

@markbell9742 - 2023-01-01

@@edgeeffect Yeah-Boy ! The ring had no particular meaning to me, but I love the crystals of chloroauric acid that come from it. Now if I can just figure out how to convert brass to, . . . . never mined! Cheers, Mark

@gabrielbr1459 - 2023-02-02

3:00 "we also would be dead" that me laugh surprisinglytoo much.

@universomicro4282 - 2022-12-31

Hi Nurd!!! super interensting, thanks for explain the process with the reactions, your videos are one motivation for me. Happy new year from Argentina!

@stormrunner0029 - 2022-12-31

Have a good New Year NurdRage. I’ve been checking out screetips, refining his old jewelry. Like your mind reader. Cheers.

@lethal2453 - 2022-12-31

Would have been nice to also hear about Mercury, and it's ability to eat gold, and then be able to distil off the Mercury.

@scraptactics2993 - 2022-12-31

The format is great and presentation is perfect!👍

@lowerclasswarfare - 2023-01-02

This format is great. I'd be completely happy to watch more like this.

@vandahm - 2022-12-31

This is the best science channel on YouTube. I'm glad to see you back again!

@AsmodeusMictian - 2022-12-31

Loving both formats, honestly. Thanks a lot, it's always a good day when you upload new content :)

@hopeforescape884 - 2022-12-31

Hurray! He is back! Happy new year!

@redneckchemist6506 - 2023-01-02

Great video. You can actually use the Nernst Equation (E=E°-(RT/nF)lnQ) and a simple table of reduction potentials for the two reactions you show at 0:56 to calculate what concentrations of HCl and HNO3 are required to dissolve platinum and gold. At even somewhat dilute (less than 1M) concentrations, it becomes non-spontaneous.

@tinker-neer - 2022-12-31

Welcome back, hope your life stabilised and you will find joy in sharing projects with us again!

@Noughtta - 2022-12-31

Loving the new format!

@AndreLourencoIVB - 2023-01-11

So happy you are not gone! Been a while since last time Youtube recommended me a video of yours.

@maxog1 - 2022-12-31

I would love to see NurdRage Collab with NileRed one day. The chemical chaos the world needs.

@gvii - 2022-12-31

That was actually very interesting. Always wondered why Aqua Regia could do what the individual ingredients alone could not, but apparently couldn't be bothered to get off my butt to actually look into why. And I have to admit, it is a little painful watching those precious metals being dissolved. I know it's a small matter for you to get them back. But it is still a little painful to watch, especially these days. Lol...

@dracrichards5785 - 2022-12-31

Love your chemistry videos man. Please do more videos

@masongauthier1998 - 2023-01-24

Almost can’t believe I’ve been watching your videos for a decade now and there still perfect

@MadScientist267 - 2023-01-04

Really appreciate the effort and detail. Great video.

@indeedItdoes - 2022-12-31

Great video. Nice to see you back.
I really like this format,

@epicname1549 - 2022-12-31

So glad you are back!!!!

@Grak70 - 2022-12-31

YES. Welcome back! We missed you!

@msdmathssousdopamine8630 - 2023-01-01

Thank you. Happy new year.

@aga5897 - 2023-01-06

Great to see Nurdy bouncing Chemistry around again !
Nice one.
It's a Good Day when there's a new NurdRage video ;)

@DogsaladSalad - 2023-01-12

Haven't been notified of your uploads unfortunately even though I'm subbed and got the bell on. Good to see you're still around!

@Dominik9283 - 2023-01-15

Nice video! I was also successfull dissolving gold using a mixture of 31% HCl and only 12% H202. Worked just as fine, just had to be heated a lot.

@PhantomLife - 2023-01-16

Wow, My Curiosity, answered in thorough detail. Including some of the Alternate sources that can be used.

@markshort9098 - 2022-12-31

Nurdrage uploaded, it truly is a happy new year

@mrfoodarama - 2022-12-31

Great to see you! Hope you have a Happy & Healthy New Year !

@TheJMaXx - 2022-12-31

This was a great video, thanks for the information and examples.

@chakritsasorn - 2023-01-14

Well welcome back!! Long time no see!!!

@jackingwads7513 - 2023-01-04

Welcome back again I really enjoy the yearly visits from you

@Sunone13 - 2024-04-01

Beautiful explanation.

@morgansinclair6318 - 2022-12-31

I've been wondering this since I read about aqua regia in a set of encyclopedias we had as a kid, Compton's. Thank you!

@austint.6627 - 2023-01-13

Awesome very thorough and much appreciated!!😇

@18thtimelucky - 2023-01-02

What a coincidence on the timing of this video!
I want to electroplate a copper ring with platinum as I go about constructing a ring for my partner of 6 years. I have a few grams of platinum metal and a little aqua regia, so not enough to really experiment and figure it out myself. I thought that if I dissolve the platinum with aqua regia to make chloroplatinic acid, and then electrolyse the solution with a carbon anode and copper ring cathode, then the chloroplatinic acid should plate the copper ring with platinum. But if the aqua regia dissolves platinum it would surely dissolve the copper ring during the electrolysis... so a higher pH would probably be needed but... this is where my chemical knowledge on electroplating ends.
If you NurdRage or anyone else has knowledge on this or could link me to an article (I have done quite a bit of googling to no avail) you would be awesome.

@greenefieldmann3014 - 2022-12-31

"The ultimate oxidant: Electricity!"

@nagi603 - 2022-12-31

Thanks for uploading this video after pondering on it. :)

@ARandomTroll - 2022-12-31

Very good explanation. I hope you do more like this.

Also, speaking of chlorates and the promised part 2: I read, that industrially, they bubble Cl2 through hot Hydroxide, making ClO- which disproportionates into ClO3-. Could a divided setup like this enable the more efficient reaction without PH control? Could it also allow for less demanding electrolysis conditions or skipping the electrolysis outright in favor of pool chemicals?

@SharpAssKnittingNeedles - 2023-01-02

Holy shit so glad to see you uploading! Been subscribed since chem 101 five years ago, and now I've passed swimmingly up through pchem. Your videos have inspired me to thoroughly study the material and also to buy enough glassware that the fbi is prolly watching me 😅 many thanks for keeping this channel going and cheers to the future 🍻

@SharpAssKnittingNeedles - 2023-01-02

Soxhelet extractor gang represent!