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Acid Test

This simple test helps you tell rocks that are
made of calcite from similar rocks made of other
minerals.

All you need is some white vinegar. (If your
parents or teacher can get it, some weak
hydrochloric acid will give you more dramatic
results.)

Put a large drop of vinegar (or a small drop of acid)
on your rock and watch what happens for a minute
or so.

	If the rock is made of calcite, small bubbles will start to form inside the drop of vinegar. Or, if you use weak acid (like in this picture), the acid will start to fizz like crazy!

If your rock is made of dolomite, the bare rock
won't make bubbles. However, if you scratch a
dolomite rock into powder, the powder will make
bubbles in vinegar or acid.

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Neighborhood Rocks is part of the Salt the Sandbox Web.
For more information visit the Salt the Sandbox home page.

This page was created on October 14, 2001, and it was last updated on December 8, 2002.