Q. A man went door to door posing as a goldsmith. He promised to bring back the glitter of old and dull gold ornaments. An unsuspecting lady gave a set of gold bangles to him which he dipped in a particular solution. The bangles sparkled like new but their weight was reduced drastically. The lady was upset but after a futile argument the man beat a hasty retreat. Can you play the detective to find out the nature of the solution he had used?
It sounds like the man used a chemical solution to clean the gold bangles. One common solution used for this purpose is called “aqua regia,” which is a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. Aqua regia is known for its ability to dissolve gold and remove impurities, making the gold surface shiny and bright.
When the bangles were dipped in the solution, the acids in the solution reacted with the impurities and any tarnish on the surface of the gold. This reaction caused the impurities to dissolve, leaving behind a clean and shiny surface.
However, it’s important to note that aqua regia can also dissolve gold itself, especially if it’s left in the solution for too long. This could explain why the weight of the bangles was reduced drastically after cleaning. The man likely used this property to cheat the lady by making the bangles look shiny but secretly removing some of the gold material in the process.
So, in conclusion, it’s possible that the solution used by the man was aqua regia, which is known for its ability to clean gold ornaments but can also dissolve gold if left in contact for too long.
