Nitric acid oxidizes the metal to +3 ions, but only in minute quantities, usually undetectable while in the pure acid due to chemical equilibrium from the response. However, the ions are faraway from the equilibrium by hydrochloric acid, forming AuCl−4 ions, or chloroauric acid, thereby enabling more oxidation: Information on https://zahngold32086.hyperionwiki.com/704571/an_unbiased_view_of_gold