Gold is well-known to be an inert material and resistant to most acids except for aqua regia. Recently, we have dessolved gold in potassium chloride solution with alternate-current electrochemical process.[1] Here, we show that gold can be dessolved in sea water by using alternate-current electrochemical etching at the suitable condition. The gold electrodes immerced in sea water are etched and dissolved to be chloroauric acid. At the different condition, it is etched but formed tetragold octachloride with black powder. This paper shows how we control the production of chloroauric acid and tetragold octachloride by changing the alternate-current frequency and applied voltage.

Dessolving gold in sea water

ACS Fall 2021

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