INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Testing kits include various bottles of nitric acid for different types of gold. Some tests also include a flat rock called a touchstone you can use to scratch off some of the gold on your item. You may also see needles with samples of yellow and white gold to use as a comparison to your item. Testing kits are available online. Also, check with local jewelry stores. Most jewelers use this test for its accuracy. Choose an inconspicuous location on the jewelry to make the scratch, such as underneath a clasp or an inner band. Then, use a sharp tool such as a jewelry engraver to dig into the gold. Scratch until you get underneath the top layer of gold. Expose a fresh layer of gold or any other metal underneath it. Nitric acid tests require you to scratch your piece of gold. If the gold has personal value to you or you plan on keeping it, take it to a professional jeweler instead of doing the test yourself. Put on latex gloves and work in a well-ventilated room to avoid any issues with the dangerous acid. When you're ready, look for the bottle of acid labeled for 18K gold. After setting the gold in a stainless steel container, place a drop of the acid directly on the scratch you made, then watch for it to turn a shade of green. If it turns green, you know right away your gold is fake. Regular gold does not react to the acid, so your item might be gold plated or a low-purity blend of metals. A milk-colored reaction usually indicates gold-plated sterling silver. If the acid turns gold, you have gold-plated brass. If you think you might have real gold, rub it along the touchstone to create a streak of gold flakes. Add a drop of 12K, 14K, 18K, and 22K nitric acid to different parts of the streak. Check back after 20 to 40 seconds. Find the spot where the acid doesn't dissolve the gold to figure out what karat rating your item is. The acids all increase in strength, so the acid used for 22K is stronger than the 12K one. If the 18K acid dissolves the gold but the 14K one doesn't, you know your item is probably around 14K.

SUMMARY: Purchase gold-testing kit to get the acid you need for the test. Create a small scratch on the gold using a sharp tool. Add a drop of nitric acid to the scratch. Scratch the gold on a touchstone to test its purity.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Give yourself at least fifteen extra minutes to make sure you have time to get your act together. The first day can already be a little bit stressful, and you'll feel more relaxed if you're not running around. This extra time will help you perfect your look, have enough time to eat breakfast, to have a nice shower, and do anything else you need to do to start that first day off on the right foot. It's a good idea to pack your bag the night before school, to make sure you have all the supplies you need. You'll be able to save time in the morning so you won't be rushed. You should know where your first class, or your homeroom is before you walk into the halls of your middle school. If you're lost, however, just ask a teacher, administrator, or even an older student for help. It's important to know where you're headed so you don't wander around aimlessly or miss out on something important. It's likely you'll go to homeroom first, where you'll meet your homeroom teacher and will get important information about your day. Though having a plan is important, you also don't have to worry if things don't go as planned. Even the beginning of your first day of middle school can throw you some surprises, and that won't be a bad thing. Though you may be feeling shy, you should do the best you can to be as nice and friendly to the new students in your classes as you can. Introduce yourself, ask them about themselves, and talk about what you think of middle school, so far. Smile and wave at people, and make them feel welcome in your presence. Don't be intimidated by people who seem too cool or too stuck up, either. Just make an effort to be approachable and easygoing. People will be more receptive to new friendships at the beginning of the year, before too many cliques form. The sooner you talk to new people, the more likely you'll be to connect for real. If you see a cute guy or girl, don't be afraid to say hi. People like confidence, and you don't have to be shy about talking to people. Though you may not think it's cool to care, if you want to get through middle school and start off on the right foot, it's far better to listen to your teachers, to participate when they ask questions, to take notes, and to avoid any distractions than to act like a know-it-all or like you couldn't care less. Make an effort to be a good student and to make the most of each class you take. If you care about the material, you'll have more fun in the process than you would if you were just sulking and waiting for the bell to ring. Though there may not be too many opportunities to participate on the first day, you should do the best you can to show that you care, even if you just ask a question about the syllabus. Make sure you show up to class on time and that you make a good impression right away. You may accidentally make a bad first impression by laughing too much or chattering with your friends even if you're normally a good student. Unfortunately, first impressions are notoriously hard to break, so try to put your best foot forward when you step into the classroom. You don't have to suck up to your teachers, either. Just pay attention and act like you really care and you'll be on your way. Each middle school is different. You should get a sense of how the seating in your cafeteria works. If you can choose a new seat every day, try to plan to meet up with your friends in advance so you can sit together. If you have to choose the same table for the entire year, see if you can get together a group of people to make it work. If you don't know many people in your new school yet, then don't worry. Just be friendly, find some people who look nice, and ask if you can sit next to them. If you can, you should try to get to the cafeteria as early as you can. That way, you'll be more likely to find your friends or to find a place to sit. If you want to make the most of your first day, then you should try to get through it with a big smile on your face. Don't complain to your friends, criticize your teachers, or dread every one of your classes. Instead, try to approach everything with a "can do" attitude and don't ever feel like people will never give you a chance. If you smile, expect only the best, and try to stick to optimistic topics, you'll be having a much better day. Besides, people are drawn to positive people; the more upbeat you are, the easier it will be for you to make new friends. Don't compare yourself to other people. You may feel like you're not as good-looking or as well-dressed as some of the people in your school, but this kind of thinking is pointless and will only get you down. Remember that you have a lot to offer, too, and the well-dressed girl in your French class may have her own set of problems. Unfortunately, not every person is at his best in middle school. It's easy to fall into cliques, to gossip, or just to judge other people you don't really know. However, if you want to make it through your first day in a good mood, you should avoid judging anyone before you get to know him or her or even being a part of any silly gossip. You wouldn't want people who barely know you to gossip about you, would you? You don't know who your best friends will be yet, and you don't want to find yourself making fun of someone who could have been your best friend if you had only given her a chance.

SUMMARY:
Wake up fifteen minutes earlier than you need to. Make sure you know where to go first. Be friendly to all the new students. Be engaged in the classroom. Start to build positive relationships with your teachers. Make the most of your time in the school cafeteria. Maintain a positive attitude. Don't be judgmental or mean.