Make Nitric Acid at Home! Cheap and Easy DIY Method

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
Lab Borosilicate Glass Funnels - amzn.to/3KhLG2S
Glass Jointed Short Stem Powder Funnel with 100mm Top O.D, and 24/40 Inner Joint - amzn.to/43LvwFV
1000ml Amber Brown Glass Graduated Round Lab Bottles - amzn.to/3QhKnVn
Mini Submersible Water Pump - amzn.to/3rNNudx
Lab Stoppers for Laboratory Glassware Joint 24/40 - amzn.to/455W0mE
5 gallon buckets - Ace Hardware
Mineral Oil - Ace Hardware
12" Length Stir Rod - amzn.to/3DyDrf1
Metal Lab Keck Clamps - amzn.to/3rUAdQj
500ml Amber Reagent Bottle, Narrow Mouth with Acid Proof Polypropylene Stopper, Socket Size 24/29 - amzn.to/44QlIM7
2000ml 2 Neck Round Bottom Flask - amzn.to/43NKXNV
Laboratory Thermometer - amzn.to/3Oz4RaQ
Hot Plate - amzn.to/3KiFkAc
Borosilicate Glass Liebig Condenser with 24/40 Joint 400mm Jacket Length - amzn.to/459Hv1b
Glass Vacuum Take Off Adapter, 105 Degree Bent, Short Stem with 24/40 Joints - amzn.to/3DyKIvn
3 Way Distilling Thermometer Adapter with 24/40 Joints - amzn.to/44WBlBo
Chemistry Laboratory Stands - amzn.to/47duVQ7
10 lb. Sodium Nitrate 99+% Pure - amzn.to/478JiVQ
Sulfuric Acid - Ace Hardware
Baking Soda - Ace Hardware
Water Squirt Bottle - Ace Hardware
Hot Plate - Any 1500 watt hot plate
Tom Ashworth has many hobbies and interests.
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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

[@michaelbetsch9700]

Now that was a good video straight to the point thank you . You told the truth no fluff and the right stuff

[@ProspectorsCache]

Thanks 😊

[@Ltn.Immelmann]

Very interesting . My question is how to dispose of the old chemicals then ?

[@ProspectorsCache]

Basically I neutralize them and dispose of at a chemical wastesite.

[@adebiyi100]

Thank you so for update on the gold refining method. Pls let me know how to smelt gold dust with help of Zinc or Aluminium but the application of borax,ammoniumthiosulfate pls teach me Thank you Sir

[@ProspectorsCache]

I am coming out with gold refining video soon!

[@shucksful]

Or just use Stump Remover granules? What are your thoughts on using that option, in your experience if you’ve used it? Thank you, for the excellent video.

[@ProspectorsCache]

Stump remover is sodium metabisulphide which is used for dropping gold from aqua regia

[@shucksful]

@@ProspectorsCache My bad, I just started learning this kind of stuff so I got things mixed up. lol. Thank you! ☺️

[@shucksful]

@@ProspectorsCache Now that I’ve figured that part out, have you any opinions on using vitamin C to drop the gold? (Just curious) Im also aware of aluminum, zinc, as options, as well…any favorites in your opinion? I really appreciate your time. Thanks again.

[@ProspectorsCache]

I use stunp remover

[@TheExdacy34]

do you have a store where you sell the finished nitric acid i can buy

[@ProspectorsCache]

No shipping would kill me. And probably some regulations , since it can be used to make bad things.

[@davegill8745]

You said you would list all the supplies and where to get??

[@ProspectorsCache]

They are in the description.

[@mr.perfect1er933]

Im confused...I thought you were advertising making 68-70% Nitric til at the end you said it is over 90%...My question is...do you treat your acid as 68% Concentrated Nitric Acid...Or like 90+% Purish NA? Oh yeah...asking for a friend. His dialup is down and was curious.

[@ProspectorsCache]

It is 95% fuming nitric. I mix with water later if I need 68%. Also when using for gold recovery you use a lot less to make aqua Regia

[@PaulBrown-uj5le]

Will ammonium nitrate work?.

[@ProspectorsCache]

Yes it is more dangerous, but it does work. My preference is Sodium Nitrate or potassium nitrate.

[@chrischris2936]

Why the vacuum adapter and no vacuum?

[@ProspectorsCache]

I was using as strainer. No need for vaccum

[@ajimakhatun6058]

Can i make silver nitrate from this?

[@ProspectorsCache]

To make silver nitrate you would add 30% water to this to end up with a 30/70 concentration to tame the pure nitric solution. Then you would dissolve silver in the solution. That would give you silver nitrate. Also be sure to always add nitric to the water slowly. Never add water to acids. Always add acid to water.

[@myamorse1107]

Doesn't the title say cheap ad easy diy .. not sure if where you get your breakers is but up here they're not cheap..

[@ProspectorsCache]

Matt, I bought a kit off Amazon and it was less than $100. Other items at garage sales. Overall it cost me less than $20 to make a liter of Nitric. Way cheaper than the $100 they ask online for it plus $50 hazmat shipping. Also nitric you buy is 68%, the one I make is red fuming nitric over 90%. So I have to use less. Believe me it is way cheaper.

[@Joel-ym3ij]

Use Sand instead of Hot oil to heat your flask.

[@ProspectorsCache]

I will try that.

[@markmanning2921]

Please redo this video and either DONT play that guitar music (which I love) or play it at a *DRASTICALLY* reduced volume. It is literally impossible for me to tell what you are saying because the guitar drownds out your voice.

[@ProspectorsCache]

Thanks for the input.