Layers of these bacteria dissolve gold into nanoparticles.
It can be used to dissolve gold.
When pretty concentrated and fully saturated with I2, it is about the mildest chemical solution that will dissolve gold.
Well, what can you dissolve gold with?
It is one of the few substances that can dissolve gold and platinum, and other noble metals.
It can be isolated by adding a piece to aqua regia, which has the ability to dissolve gold and platinum but not osmiridium.
And just as cyanide dissolves gold out of the rock, it releases harmful metals, too.
Many mines in Zimbabwe are running perilously low on imported supplies like cyanide, which is used to dissolve gold from crushed rock.
It can dissolve gold to make gold selenate.
For years, miners had been using a process called heap leach cyanide recovery to dissolve gold out of old tailings.