How to differentiate real amber from imitation?
There are several ways of making a distinction between real amber and an imitation, here are some of them.
Because the specific weight of amber /on an average 1.056 g/cm 3/ is not much greater than that of water /1.00 g/cm 3/, amber, as opposed to its imitation, floats on the surface of the solution prepared from 1 l of water and 30 g of table salt. Imitation sinks.
Amber has electrostatic abilities: rubbing it against for example wool makes it attract to its own surface small, light objects, such as: hairs, tiny pieces of paper, etc.
After slight heating amber gives off resinous scent.
Amber with great difficulty melts, and never completely, on well-known solvents.