Do you want to know how to test gold? You are not alone. If you are interested in buying or selling gold, you will need to know how to determine its authenticity. Gold is one of the world's most valuable commodities, and it is also one of the rarest. For these two reasons, many people want to own gold. Unfortunately, some companies take advantage of the demand for gold by selling a steady stream of fake or lower-quality gold. It is important for you to know whether the gold you are buying or selling is worth its weight. Here are several options for finding out if your gold is the real deal:

Expert Analysis
The easiest option, by far, is to take a trip to a reputable jeweler. The jeweler should be able to appraise your piece. Be warned that appraisals do not come cheap. In many jewelry stores, appraisals begin at $50.

Home Testing
One of the more popular ways to test gold is with your own home test kit. These kits can be purchased online for added convenience. The process of home testing is easy. You rub your gold against a rock that comes in the kit, and then you drop nitric acid on the rock to test the authenticity of the gold. If there is no color change, your gold is pure. To find out if your gold is 24 karat or a lower karat, you can compare the results of your gold with the results of a testing needle.

The Magnet Test
Try the magnet test. Many people think that because gold is a metal, it should be attracted to a magnet. In fact, gold does not have a magnetic pull. If your gold is attracted to the magnet, it is not pure gold. This does not mean that the piece contains no gold, but it is highly likely that the piece contains a large percentage of some other metal.

The Acid Test
The acid test can be effective, but it is not recommended if you are testing jewelry that you like. To test this way, you will need sulfuric acid, a pair of gloves and safety goggles. Drop a minute amount of acid on your gold. If the gold dissolves, you are not dealing with pure gold.