Aren't gold plated connectors supposed to be inoxidable?

[li_gangyi]

will it dissolve copper?? what actually happens to the gold?? does it change into something else?

 

[Sch3mat1c]

Gold chloride. AFAIK it dissolves most anything else metallic, too. BTW, it works very slowly on gold from what I hear. Also breaks down over time so has to be mixed (from HCl and HNO3) before use.

Tim

 

[li_gangyi]

then how do we tell if it's real gold or just copper?? unless it selectivly dissolves gold...

 

[Wombat2]

You can detirmine it is gold because either acid on its own will not effect real gold but in combination does. Therefore if either acid on its own attacks the metal it is not gold - if either acid on its own has no effect but in combination does react then the metal is gold.

David L

 

[Sch3mat1c]

I have no idea.

Tim

 

[li_gangyi]

hmm...maybe we can try our physics thingy here...density~!!! but then plated stuff wouldn't be counted in...too bad...unless we can get some of the plating off...enough to measure?? would require a lot of connectors then...

 

[Bricolo]

I think I'll go to the local store and tell the guy what I think about his gold plated RCAs

 

[li_gangyi]

welll...what would you sae?? it sux...he'll tell u "You get what u pay for" seriously how much did u pay for those...??

 

[Bricolo]

1.5€ one

 

[Richard C]

I once heard that mercury has an attraction to gold and that the vapour will 'coat' gold. This might be nonsense, it was a while ago

 

[Sch3mat1c]

Well, mercury certainly has an affinity (as amalgam) for gold and silver. But then you have hazardous mercury and uncoated connectors, kinda useless.

Price doesn't really mean anything as gold plating is always done very thin. Although the better platings will have nickel and copper layers underneath for a better bond, and the extra processes might cost a little.

Tim

 

[li_gangyi]

it's true...they use mercury to et the gold outta rocks and then later from the solution get the gold out...not really sure how it works completely...but during the old rush...it was what caused many ppl to die (the mercury)