Vinegar Test For Rocks

[celaeno]

i'm about to do the vinegar test on my red shale and beach pebbles to see if it fizzes.

i have america's choice 5% acidity distilled white vinegar. will this vinegar work?

 

[tmack]

I would certainly think it should work. Vinegar is basically acetic acid, and yours is 5% acetic acid. Just watch for bubbles fizzing off of it. You may have some trapped surface air, so try to look for actual fizzing - kinda like the way a carbonated soda or beer fizzes. I doubt you'll see any on shale, but maybe the beach pebbles if any contain limestone (calcium carbonate).