Nitric acid AsO, SbO, and TiO respectively. Some precious metals, such as pure gold and platinum-group metals do not react with nitric acid, though pure gold does react with "aqua regia", a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. However, some less noble metals (Ag, Cu, ...) present in some gold alloys relatively poor in gold such as colored gold can be easily oxidized and dissolved by nitric acid, leading to colour changes of the gold-alloy surface. Nitric acid is used as a cheap means in jewelry shops to quickly spot low-gold alloys (< 14 carats) and to rapidly assess the
Methylmalonic acid Methylmalonic acid Methylmalonic acid (MMA) (conjugate base methylmalonate) is a dicarboxylic acid that is a "C"-methylated derivative of malonate. The coenzyme A linked form of methylmalonic acid, methylmalonyl-CoA, is converted into succinyl-CoA by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, in a reaction that requires vitamin B as a cofactor. In this way, it enters the Krebs cycle, and is thus part of one of the anaplerotic reactions. Increased methylmalonic acid levels may indicate a vitamin B deficiency. However, it is sensitive (those with the disease almost always test positive) but not specific (those that do not have the disease do not always test negative).