Now comes the hardest part of the experiment - the waiting. DOCX Fairfield Area School District / District Home 1. Look how much cleaner it is. Luckily, there are a number of ways to clean pennies and make them look bright and shiny again, using chemistry! Compare the penny from the ketchup to the control penny. Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. In fact, new pennies are so pretty that its considered a compliment to say that something is as shiny as a new penny. 9 Easy Grill Cleaning Tips to Keep Mealtime Fresh, At least two of the solutions from the above list, One penny for each solution plus one extra, One small dish or cup for each solution (plastic or paper cups with a couple inches off the top cut off will work if there aren't drinking glasses to spare). As they are exposed to the environment, pennies become coated with a layer of copper-oxide, making them look tarnished (dull, brown and dirty appearance). So when the coin stays in your pocket or is passed from person to person or stays in that container where you keep all your pennies, the copper in the coin reacts with the oxygen in the air and turns into what is called copper oxide. Write the name of each liquid on a strip of paper and put one strip beside the cup to mark it. But the vinegar by itself didnt clean the coin as well as the vinegar + salt solution! Copyright 2002-2023 Science Buddies. . To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these . For any other use, please contact Science Buddies. We had a blast, a physical example of chemical weathering, by looking at how the soda coke (or a generic version), . Which is the least clean? Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images. Start by placing the Ketchup, 5 minutes penny into the cup labeled Ketchup 5. After 10 minutes, take the coins out; but this time, dont wipe the coins clean. Citrus JuiceTry a variety of citrus juices to see which works best or simply let your pennies soak in lemon juice. Why is that? Dry the pennies with a paper towel. So for the 2nd stage of this experiment, you will work on these two materials alone. Place your Control, 1 minutes penny into the Control 1 cup. Hi! Please enter a search term in the text box. If you are doing this with older children who can write you can have them write out a grid for penny comparison. Put 1 tablespoon Tabasco into each Tabasco cup. Avoid unsightly marks and scratches by learning how to clean sunglasses the right way. are shinier than others, learn the meaning of a hypothesis by watching a video (link to website), make a hypothesis, graph their hypothesis, are dull and how they become shiny. What do your results tell you about the special properties of copper pennies? The coins that were submerged in those cups should come out nice and shiny, while the rest are still a little dull and dirty. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Deidre is an avid writer with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature. The soda cleans the pennies because it contains phosphoric acid. Were there any cleaning methods where the time didnt matter, so the 1 minute and 5 minute pennies are equally clean? If you enjoyed this cleaning pennies experiment, you'll love: Wow! They each include Question, Hypothesis, #1-How many drops of water can you fit on a, #2-Which liquid can you fit the most drops of on, to hook those kiddos and get them writing up a lab report! Compare the 1 minute and 5 minute pennies in each row. I use this specifically to teach them the. Book a Science PartyHave the Science Guy visit your school! It utilizes a lot of stuff you already have lying around your house, and does not require you to go out and buy a lot of fancy science gadgets. What changes could you make to the experiment to get even cleaner pennies? Students will create a booklet or for a quicker project, just print the worksheet. Sign up to learn about our special events, clubs, camps, promotions and school programs. ), 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed Lemon Juice, 2 tablespoons Tabasco Sauce (or other hot sauce), 11 plastic cups (small Tupperware containers or bowls will work as well). 5. For example, ask them if they know you can clean pennies, why you should clean pennies, and what would be the best thing to use to clean pennies? Rank your solutions from which cleaned the penny the best, to which cleaned it the worst. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. 3 clear cups. Once there's a working hypothesis, the experiment itself can begin. This is why bright shiny pennies dull with age. Copper oxide is brownish or sometimes black in color (depending on other things in the pennys environment). Gently swirl the cup so that the penny is completely covered with Ketchup. Oranges? Coke contains phosphoric acid that cleans the oxides. Remove pennies and place them on a paper towel to dry. Try other materials containing small amounts of acid to see which produces the best results. Drop the pennies into the soda. Remember that at the very start, I said you should use only copper coins? Extra: Experiment with even longer periods of time with each of the cleaning methods. Copper oxide is blackish. DIY | Penny Cleaning Experiments | Playvolution HQ 1. Ketchup is a weak acid (from the vinegar), and this acid breaks down the copper oxide. Clean Pennies - Utah Education Network This experiment can be performed with things generally found around the house, so it's a great choice for even a quick rainy day project. Take the pennies out one at a time and, keeping track of which penny is which, rinse each one off. The statue ismade of copper and it has turned bluish-green because of this copper-oxygen-chlorine reaction. What Juice Cleans Pennies Best Science Fair Projects Kids will love trying their hand at the classic cleaning pennies science experiment to see if theycan use a chemical reaction to make pennies shine brightly once again. And also, dont forget to Subscribe to our channel for more fun kids activities. This is because copper reacts to oxygen in the air and it turns into a compound called copper oxide. They are going to love it! The unlikely condiment you need to be sure to include? No, the scientific method isnt a chore. This easy and fun science experiment teaches kids about chemical reactions in a way that seems like magic! Rocking Chair, Glider, or Recliner for the Nursery: Is It Worth It? Begin by pouring the vinegar into the bowl. 1/2 cup vinegar. Kindergarten Math Practice with the Zap Zap Math App, Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child, Disclosure Policy & Copyright Information. 2. How to Clean Sunglasses Without Scratching Them. The ketchup is most likely what will surprise your kids the most (and lets be honest perhaps you too!). Chemical reactions, acidity, copper oxidation. Cleaning Penny Experiment Teaching Resources | Teachers Pay Teachers Wipe the coins dry with their paper towels and compare them. Which one do they think will clean the coin the most? Here is the full list so you can tick them off with your kids as you collect them: When it comes to what liquids you and your kids can use in this experiment, part of the fun is asking them what they think would be good to use and trying it out. Teacher Notes: Regarding, : 1 colour page Density Experiment With Water Watch The Floating Egg! Pour a small amount of each solution you chose into a cup. This outlines all of the steps of scientific investigation. However, over time, they turn dull and dark. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You simply place a, in three types of solutions, I chose water, soap/water, and salt/vinegar but you can change the solutions if you like (the sheet is editable). The reason why ketchup is such a good coin cleaner is because it is made from tomatoes, and tomatoes are an acidic vegetable (yes, tomatoes are a vegetable). This looks like a great activity to do with my kiddos! We're going to try this out today! I preceded the, a presentation from the U.S. Mint site on how coins are made. A questionable aspect of this experiment is arisen with the change of the color of ammonia during the experiment. As we have seen experimentally, acid alone does not clean as well as acid and salt. Answers to, Questions: 1 colour page Keep it out of reach with a note to be sure no one drinks the soda. Hi, I'm Kim! Pennies rust overtime. You can read more on the science behind how to clean pennies here: Clean your pennies with ketchup! Use your paper towels to gently dry off each penny, then place it in the corresponding square of your table. Step by Step Procedure: There are two different stages to this Science activity. Make your own mix of vinegar and salt at different concentrations. Try more solutions. Your kids will love this simple chemistry experiment. CokeCoke and off-brand colas will quickly remove the tarnish. The vinegar + salt mixture and the ketchup will have come out as the clear winners. Place the pennies in the bowl, and allow them to sit for several minutes. Lesson Cover: 1 colour page Once the budding scientist has a pile of pennies, he or she should choose and collect their selection of cleaning solutions. You can find this page online at: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/shine-bright-like-apenny. I love coming up with simple and fun learning and STEM activities for kids. Experiments on Cleaning Pennies | Sciencing Do you notice any changes in the contents of the cups is anything bubbling, or changing color? This will allow you to make a better judgment of how well each method cleaned, by looking at the pennies before and after their treatment. PRINT AND GO STEM BUNDLE. KetchupSoak your pennies in ketchup to clean them like new. Check the coins, then come back again in another 30 minutes and see what has happened to the coins. Then write and draw your observations. Find out! I attached a "rainbow" of, glue dots, and passed it around the room. You can dispose of any extra ketchup how you normally would. It included a shiny new coin, one blackened and covered in ver, Smart Board Lesson for Beginning Learners, Introduce your students to the process of scientific experimentation, lesson. Pour cup of baking soda into one of your plastic cups. 10 very dirty pennies (the dirtier the better! What happens? Salt is also a key ingredient in the other cleaning agents, thus making them effective in cleaning the pennies. And it even had added acetic acid! Step 1 Fill a glass cup with vinegar and pour it in a non-metallic bowl. Grab a cup of coffee, some of that chocolate youre hiding from the kids, and join me as I learn, experiment, and explore with my kiddos and hopefully inspire you a little in your journey alongside smart, quirky, creative kids, too! Why did the catsup clean the coin as well as the vinegar + salt solution? The young scientist tries to find out which of several solutions will clean pennies best, eliminating the copper oxide that gives the surface a dull and tarnished appearance. Hold it there for about 10 seconds, then pull it out. To remove this tarnish, an acid needs to be used to weaken the bonds between the copper and oxygen atoms. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. Look for pennies made before 1982 and roughly about the same time; this way they will be more tarnished and the pennies will have similar composition. Her articles appear on the Sixth Wall and other websites. At the end students write which solution, Lab Activity" is an engaging and interactive lab, designed for high school and college biology classes. Remember that copper turns dark brown when reacting with oxygen? Well keep that in mind. Based in Los Angeles, Bridgett Michele Lawrence began working as a freelance writer in 2008. Could you have cleaner pennies if you just used running water? (You may need to push the one in the catsup to get it fully submerged). This is because when the hydrochloric solution cleaned the coin and air dried it, it also took with it some of the salt. All you need is a couple of old copper coins, some different liquids and a few other tools. What happened to the coins when air dried? Cleaning Pennies Mr. Bond's Science Guys How to Create an Escape Room for Teaching, 50 Homeschool Science Experiments (that cost next to nothing) | Free Homeschool Deals . Line these cups up in a row. Now when you dipped it into the salt + vinegar solution and then air-dried it, it also took with it some chlorine which is often found in salt. The answer is pretty simple before 1982, pennies were made almost entirely from copper, and modern pennies are made of copper-plated zinc. And hydrochloric acid is so much more acidic than vinegar alone. 'Balloon Powered Rocket. The friction does the work. The step-by-step instructions included in this digital product are easy to follow and are accompanied by colorful illustrations that make the . Extra: Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. When experimenting with how to clean pennies, we tested a variety of items, here are some ideas: Lemon or lime juice Water Soy sauce Dish soap White vinegar Ginger ale Ketchup Salt water Hot Sauce Mustard Milk Baking soda (we did not try this, but it would be a good option to add in!) Pre-made digital activities. Before we started our cleaning pennies experiment, I talked to my kids about what they thought would happen when we placed pennies into some soda. Step 1: Put the salt and vinegar in the bowl. A great way to do this is by doing fun science experiments with your kid at home. Simple science experiment that works great with any age students! The pennies will be cleaner and brighter than before. If you took a picture in Step 1, go back and compare each pennys cleanliness before and after being cleaned. Younger kids might need a bit of help. I know I was. Pour enough of each solution into its corresponding dish to cover the pennies (it doesn't take much). Also after 10 mins none of them got cleaned but after an hour of the ketchup, it was mostly clean. Toasted Italian Sandwich - Food Fun Friday. Privacy. chemistry, kitchen science experiments, coin experiments. The pennies have become tarnished as the copper coating reacts with oxygen in the air and forms a copper oxygen compound, which makes the pennies appear brown. Vinegar (or Lemon Juice) and Salt This method is the best way to clean your pennies, and it will produce a very bright orangey-copper color on your pennies. Different brands of Ketchup and Tabasco or hot sauce will have different amounts of salt and acid in their ingredients, so your results may be different than someone else doing this activity at their house. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagramto see new experiments! MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT. Stage 1: First, prepare all your cups and line them up. Please supervise your children during all activities. Over time, pennies form a layer of copper oxide on the surface of the penny, which actually protects it from further corruption. After 10 minutes, use your tweezers to take the coins out of each cup. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Copper oxide is the dull dark color that covers old coins the older a copper coin is, the more copper oxide it has coating its surface. Set one penny aside to act as your control. Materials: Dirty pennies Glass Vinegar Salt Measuring spoons Paper towels Instructions: Fill the glass about halfway full with vinegar. TOTAL PAGES AVAILABLE FOR, 10-IN-1 BUNDLE (Set 1 of 5) - Grades 4,5,6, What is in this '10-IN-1 BUNDLE'? Analysis and Graph - Cleaning Pennies Conclusions - Cleaning Pennies Cleaning Pennies Home The project that I made, consisted in cleaning up old and dirty pennies. Start a 1 minute timer. Observe paper clips next day. Gently swirl the cup so that the penny is completely covered with Ketchup. You can only guess how highly acidic this ketchup must be! Aplus Education Ltd with Vaughan M Blaney, Students love to collect and bring in a dirty, it and why using the scientific method! The pennies get shiny because the copper oxide is being stripped off by a reaction, which results in increasing levels of copper in the liquid. Make a paste from your baking soda and water. (Keeping the pennies in front of the cups will help you remember which solution they were each in. These boxes are presented in partnership with Popular Mechanics so you know you'll be getting some great stuff each month. Step 3: Dump all the pennies into the liquid. Through the data and . But heres the question that Im sure is brewing in your mind. Be sure the penny is coated in whatever solution is in that cup. If you're cleaning metals like copper or brass with lemon juice over the long term, this can react with the metals and can cause corrosion, damaging the metal. If you have chosen to do the extra second step with your kids, then you will have noticed upon your frequent checks that the coins will have turned a blue-green color after being left to air dry. The step-by-step instructions included in this digital product are easy to follow and are accompanied by colorful illustrations that make the process even more engaging. You should have at least five different liquids ready to pour into each individual cup, but you can always add some more for fun. This activity helps students to see and experience the properties of water- including Adhesion, Cohesion, and Surface Tension. Wait about 5 minutes, then remove the pennies from the solution. Ketchup Soak your pennies in ketchup to clean them like new. Place your 'Control, 1 minutes' penny into the 'Control 1' cup. I believe learning should be enjoyable and engaging. They can also consider which might clean the pennies fastest. This lab activity aims to explore the concept of surface tension by examining the amount of water that can fit on the surface of a, without overflowing.The lab activity comes, , an eyedropper, and water. The salt helps speed up the reaction. All you need are pennies, water, dish soap, salt, and vinegar. What will happen when the liquid cleans the coin? This way, you wont mix up the coins when it comes to comparing them. Thank you for sharing! In this case, talk with the young scientist about which solutions he or she thinks will best clean the pennies. This is a fun and easy STEM activity that introduces the idea of oxidation and basic chemical reactions. Wipe the penny off with a paper towel and rinse off. We use cookies and those of third party providers to deliver the best possible web experience and to compile statistics. ), and then explain why the salt and vinegar is the winner (sorry to give it awa, enrichment project during our money unit. For my class, I just had to explain the process, give them a definition of a hypothesis (letting them know it's okay to be wrong! 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