Gold wire from IC chip by boiling with sulfuric acid #goldwire

Gold wire from IC chip by boiling with sulfuric acid

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Extracting gold wire from an IC (integrated circuit) chip using boiling sulfuric acid is a dangerous process that requires extreme caution. Sulfuric acid at high temperatures can cause severe burns, toxic fumes, and violent reactions if not handled properly.

Overview of the Process

Gold wires inside IC chips are usually bonding wires that connect the semiconductor die to the chip's leads. These wires are extremely thin (usually 99.99% pure gold) and embedded in resin or epoxy. Boiling sulfuric acid can dissolve the epoxy and expose the gold wires.

Materials Needed

IC chips (from CPUs, RAM, old circuit boards, etc.)

Concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄, 98%) – highly corrosive!

Heat-resistant glassware or ceramic crucible

Hot plate or controlled heating source (not open flame)

Fume hood or outdoor well-ventilated area

Personal protective equipment (PPE):

Acid-resistant gloves

Face shield & goggles

Respirator (for acid fumes)

Chemical-resistant apron

Procedure

Preparation:

Ensure the work area is well-ventilated (preferably under a fume hood).

Wear all safety gear before handling sulfuric acid.

Heating the Sulfuric Acid:

Pour concentrated sulfuric acid into a heat-resistant container.

Slowly heat the acid on a hot plate (NOT an open flame) to ~200–300°C.

WARNING: Boiling sulfuric acid releases sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and sulfur trioxide (SO₃), which are highly toxic!

Adding IC Chips:

Drop the IC chips slowly into the hot acid.

The acid will dissolve organic materials (epoxy, resin, plastic, etc.), leaving behind gold bonding wires.

Gold Recovery:

Once the process is complete, carefully remove the gold wires using tweezers or filter the solution through a fine mesh.

Neutralize any remaining acid using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) slowly.

Rinsing and Refining:

Wash the gold wires with distilled water and isopropyl alcohol to remove acid residues.

Further refine the gold if needed.

Safety Precautions

Do NOT use glass beakers unless they are high-temperature resistant. Sulfuric acid at high temperatures can cause thermal shock and break glass.

NEVER add water to sulfuric acid! Always add acid to water if dilution is necessary.

Handle acid fumes carefully. Prolonged exposure can cause lung damage.

Dispose of waste properly. Neutralize used acid before disposal.

Alternative Methods

Aqua Regia (HNO₃ + HCl) can dissolve gold, which can then be precipitated.

Nitric acid can dissolve base metals, leaving gold behind.

Incineration (burning off plastic in a controlled environment) can expose gold wires.