In this video, we'll show you how to make nitric acid for gold prospecting. Nitric acid is a crucial component in the gold refining process, and making it yourself can save you a lot of money. We'll go over the materials you'll need, the step-by-step process, and some safety tips to keep in mind. By the end of this video, you'll have all the information you need to make nitric acid at home and take your gold prospecting to the next level. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more gold prospecting tips and tricks!
Steps
1. Set up your distillation still per the video.
2. Measure out 200ml of pure sodium (or potassium) nitrate into a 2-neck boiling flask. The mixture of sodium nitrate and sulfuric acid tends to produce nitric acid with the highest degree of purity.
3. A round-bottom boiling flask is a must for this experiment. The curved surface and tapered mouth of the flask will prevent the evaporated nitric acid from escaping during the distillation process.
4. Add 200ml of concentrated sulfuric acid. Pour the acid into the 2-neck boiling flask using a funnel and quickly insert stopper.
a. Work in a well-ventilated outdoor space (or fume hood), and be sure to put on gloves and safety goggles prior to handling any of the chemicals.
b. The greater the purity of your acid, the better. Using sulfuric acid that’s been diluted with water will result in weaker nitric acid.
5. Connect the amber acid bottle to output of still per video.
6. Heat the 2-neck boiling flask. Acid should start distillation at around 80º C as read on thermometer and reach full distillation at around 110º C. Heat should be turned down to medium when temperature reaches 115º C.
7. You now have fuming nitric acid that is greater than 90% pure. You can run up to 4 batches without tearing the still down. Just add 200ml of nitrate salt and 200ml of sulfuric and repeat steps 2~6. This should make around 500ml of acid.
8. You can clean the still by putting everything in a bucket full of baking soda and water.


Equipment

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5 gallon buckets – Ace Hardware
Mineral Oil – Ace Hardware
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500ml Amber Reagent Bottle, Narrow Mouth with Acid Proof Polypropylene Stopper, Socket Size 24/29 - https://amzn.to/44QlIM7
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Chemistry Laboratory Stands - https://amzn.to/47duVQ7
10 lb. Sodium Nitrate 99+% Pure - https://amzn.to/478JiVQ
Sulfuric Acid – Ace Hardware
Baking Soda – Ace Hardware
Water Squirt Bottle – Ace Hardware
Hot Plate – Any 1500 watt hot plate

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction
00:19 Cheap Distillation Setup
00:43 My Distillation Equipment
01:45 The Chemicals
02:04 The Setup
02:48 Whole Setup Being Ran
06:57 Outro