Serious question, my professor said to always use a 10% HCl solution for a quick carbonate test, but my field partner swears by vinegar.

I tried vinegar on a limestone sample from the Kentucky site and it fizzed just fine, saving me from carrying extra acid. Anyone have a strong opinion on which is actually better for basic field ID?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylan_patel26d ago

Your professor is probably still mad you didn't buy the overpriced textbook from the campus store. Vinegar works great for most field stuff, and you can even put it on your fries later.

coleman.jade26d ago

Disagree about vinegar being a good all purpose field solution. It can damage some equipment and leaves a strong smell that messes with soil samples. My geology prof taught us to use diluted citric acid for cleaning tools because it rinses cleaner. Vinegar has its place, but it's not the right call for every job.