Now check out your pennies. What do they look like? Stage 1: First, prepare all your cups and line them up. Pennies are obviously made of copper, and they start out bright and shiny when they are new. Extra: Can you think of other safe household acids you could test? The Salt And Vinegar Method. The word "tarnish" refers to the dull or gray-green coloration found on some older pennies. So we proceeded to read the other ingredients and guess what we found? Ask them questions, have them tell you what they see happening. Children often think the soapy water will work best as it is normally used for cleaning, but children who understand what acids are or who know a little about chemistry may have a better idea about what will work. When you are done with this fun experiment, check outMaking Pennies Green. We are going to put the coins into different liquids, which of these liquids do you think will clean them? Well, after you wash the ketchup off, that is. Next, drop in a dirty penny and stir. Im going to use this for my science project at school but im going to do it for more then 10 minutes. If you have dirty, dull, or green pennies lying around, try the cleaning pennies science experiment to turn them bright again! Leave them there for 10 minutes while you and your kids talk about the results of the first experiment. Remove pennies and place them on a paper towel to dry. Seven Layer Density Column Science Experiment, Exploding Popsicle Stick Bomb Tutorial An Energy Experiment For Kids. Now closely look at each coin. A lot of parents or guardians may initially be switched off to this because they assume you will need fancy kits and equipment but thats not always true. Have additional paper towels available to wipe off any remaining solution from the pennies. Water is the worst because it is a neutral liquid, meaning that it sits smack in the middle of the pH scale. The salt and acetic acid in vinegar do the trick. Keep trying, keep asking why, and keep learning. So what just happened here? 2. Thanks for sharing! Science Experiment With Cleaning Pennies Teaching Resources | TPT i need to know!!! This one is exciting, low prep, and engaging. Using the tape and marker, label each dish or cup with the name of the solution that will go into it. First, prepare all your cups and line them up. Find out! Stir until the salt dissolves. Well try and put up the next stage soon. Why do pennies get dark and dingy? Put 1 tablespoon Ketchup into each Ketchup cup. But still fun expiriment!! Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. You have students write a hypothesis for what they think will happen in each solution and then let them soak. So we did a little experiment to see what would actually happen. Its a great way to get their young minds critically thinking, and also challenges them to solve problems using logic. This is also why the salt and vinegar mixture was a better coin cleaner than just vinegar alone. Update Includes Google Slides version for distance learning science experime Subjects: salt water? So there you go, thats how it cleaned the coins too. Drop the pennies into the soda. 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. Wet a toothbrush and begin scrubbing the penny. I have included 4 recording sheets to go along. Younger kids might need a bit of help. Do not add anything to the cup. What happens? (Optional) Dip one piece of pH paper in each solution (it turns more blue for basic liquids and more red for acidic ones), let it dry, and label which liquid it was dipped in. Please supervise your children during all activities. Ketchup. No, the scientific method isnt a chore. Smell), Science Fair Project For Kids: Demonstrating How Plants Help Stop Soil Erosion, 10 Great Inventors Books To Inspire Young Children, DIY Bath Bomb for Kids Fun Science Experiments For Kids, Best Books To Get Your Kids to Fall in Love With Math Teach Approved, 5 old copper pennies (these coins need to be copper for this experiment to work), 5 strips of paper (for labelling each penny), A pen and paper for jotting down the results, 5 different liquids to use to clean your pennies. Hypothesis: If I use 4 different products to clean pennies, adding each product to the a plastic dish (not mixing together), I predict that out of the 4 products, ketchup, fabuloso, coke, and lemon juice that lemon juice will clean a penny the best. You see, copper coins are usually shiny and well, copper-colored. Use your permanent marker to label your remaining plastic cups like this: Ketchup 1, Ketchup 5, Tabasco 1, Tabasco 5, Vinegar 1, Vinegar 5, Lemon 1, Lemon 5, Control 1, Control 5. Chemical reactions are responsible for the change in a pennys appearance over time. of salt and a bowl, preferably metal. If you have a camera, take a picture of the pennies. A variety of products can be used to keep your pennies looking shiny and new. CLEAN PENNIES WITH VINEGAR - ScienceBob.com Thats Chemistry in action for you! Observe paper clips next day. Hypothesis: If I put a copper penny in coca cola, soap and water,. From Dull to Dazzling: Using Pennies to Test How pH - Science Buddies Science Fair Project Ideas for Kids, Middle & High School Students, Science Bob: Cleaning Pennies With Vinegar, Steve Spangler Science: Taco Sauce Penny Cleaner, Miami Museum of Science: The pH Factor/Cleaning Pennies. The vinegar + salt mixture and the ketchup will have come out as the clear winners. The pennies will be cleaner and brighter than before. Once all the pennies are in the correct cup, use the remaining time to observe the pennies, and the contents of the cup. Its acid! Student Write-Up Template and Question Sheet: 5 colour pages You dont need any fancy gadgets or science kits to clean these coins, all you need are a few household ingredients and you will have shiny new coins in less than an hour. The step-by-step instructions included in this digital product are easy to follow and are accompanied by colorful illustrations that make the . Shine Bright Like a.Penny! | STEM Activity - Science Buddies Repeat the experiment with the same pennies in a new solution of vinegar and salt and see if you can make them even brighter! We are actually performing a chemical reaction that breaks down the copper oxide. Put a dollop of ketchup on a plate. For this experiment, you will need dirty pennies, paper towels, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, a tsp. Plus, there is another great reason to try this science experiment out youll be spending some quality time with your kids. Cleaning Penny Experiment Teaching Resources | Teachers Pay Teachers If you are looking for a fun and engaging way to keep kids passionate about learning, check out Groovy Lab in a Box. In this activity, were going to test a few different methods for cleaning pennies, and determine which gets our pennies the cleanest. This is what the pennies look like sitting at the bottom of the glass. The 25 Best Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers (Teacher Approved! Next should either be the soda/fruit juice or vinegar (sometimes these switch depending on what type of each you have used) because their pH is usually around 3, so they are mildly acidic. Thanks for the rare idea to wash penny. Write the name of each liquid on a strip of paper and put one strip beside the cup to mark it. Its that dull dark color that coats old coins. This is a fun and easy STEM activity that introduces the idea of oxidation and basic chemical reactions. And also, dont forget to Subscribe to our channel for more fun kids activities. You also may have noticed that the longer the pennies stayed in the cleaning solution, the cleaner they became! Again, make sure the penny is completely covered by Ketchup. This dirt is actually copper oxide. Remove the pennies and rinse them with water. 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). Cover the pennies with taco sauce, spreading the sauce over the pennies until they are completely covered. Why is that? 3. The chemistry behind the experiment is simple yet interesting, and the project is easy for children of all ages to do. The liquids didnt clean the coins in 10 minutes so I think it needed to be for longer! In this experiment, if the water is corrosive enough to strip off the copper oxide then you will see the progress of the reaction by watching the pennies go from dull and dingy to bright and shiny. If you dont have a camera, look closely at the color of each penny. None of our pennies were dull anymore, and some were downright shiny! So 1st cup will have catsup, 2nd will have coke, and so on. Put a dollop of ketchup on a plate. After cups are put away, remove goggles. Here is how to set up your cleaning pennies experiment. The salt in the ketchup adds dissolved chloride ions that bond with the copper to form copper chloride, which allows the acid to break up even more copper oxide. Why do you think this might be? ), and then explain why the salt and vinegar is the winner (sorry to give it awa, enrichment project during our money unit. Two student printables are included for recording and responding to the lesson. Are you getting the free resources, updates, and special offers we send out every week in our teacher newsletter? The acids (usually vinegar - acetic acid) break the copper oxide free from the penny. Pennies are good for more than just buying penny candy. What about soda? 4. Oranges? Which is the least clean? You don't have to do the 2nd one, but it's also a good scientific experiment and you'll even find out why the Statue of Liberty is the color that it is. And it actually has a lot of practical life lessons wrapped up in it. Avoid unsightly marks and scratches by learning how to clean sunglasses the right way. This spectacular 5-IN-1 BUNDLE: (Presidents' Day) Teacher Notes: Student Write-Up Sample: 1 colour page 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? 1/2 cup vinegar. 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! Well, after you wash the ketchup off, that is. Place the pennies in the bowl, and allow them to sit for several minutes. 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! Once all of the pennies have been rinsed, use your fingers to gently scrub the pennies one at a time with your baking soda paste (keep your gloves on for this part!). Most of these aren't substances that are typically used to clean, which is part of makes guessing how they will affect the pennies more fun. Im Colleen, gifted specialist, educational consultant,author,speaker, andhomeschool momof four gifted/twice-exceptional kids. But somewhere along the way, those pennies lose their luster. This bluish-green color is called Malachite. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. What do your results tell you about the special properties of copper pennies? Place your 'Control, 1 minutes' penny into the 'Control 1' cup. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Phosphoric acid breaks down the copper oxygen compound and causes a new layer of the copper to be exposed. Check the coins, then come back again in another 30 minutes and see what has happened to the coins. Once the budding scientist has a pile of pennies, he or she should choose and collect their selection of cleaning solutions. When the penny is clean, remove it, rinse it with fresh water, and set it aside to dry. Finally, wipe the coins dry with a tea towel or kitchen paper. A great way to do this is by doing fun science experiments with your kid at home. Step 2: Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Have you ever wondered why some pennies are shiny and some are dull? Learn how to wash Rothy's shoes so your go-to flats and loafers always look their best. The child should be prepared to discuss why they think some solutions were more effective than others. Theres a reason for that. This is a weak acid, which is good since we ingest it. In this case, you may have noticed that the Ketchup and Tabasco pennies were not quiet as well-cleaned as the pennies that were in the vinegar and lemon juice. 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). follow up activities, 10 graphing activities for graphing the hypothesis. Leave the coins to air dry for at least 30 minutes. Im not talking about the literal dirt that ends up collecting on them Im talking about the residue that is still present even if you rinse your pennies off with water. Leaving your pennies in the cleaning solution longer gives the reaction more time to continue, and gives you shinier pennies! Create a solution of vinegar and salt using one teaspoon of salt and 1/4 of a cup of vinegar. Toasted Italian Sandwich - Food Fun Friday. Step by Step Procedure: There are two different stages to this Science activity. The salt helps speed up the reaction. This outlines all of the steps of scientific investigation. The Best Science Kits for 5 Year Olds That Teach STEM in a Fun Way, The Best Science Kits for 4 Year Olds That Teach Basic Science Concepts Really Well, The Best Science Kits for 3 Year Olds (What to Buy and What to Avoid), The Best Gifts For 10 Year Old Girls Who Are Awesome and Ready to Change the World, Best Science Kits For 8-Year-Olds to 10-Year-Olds, Water Pressure Rocket Toy: 4M Water Rocket Kit Review. To remove this tarnish, an acid needs to be used to weaken the bonds between the copper and oxygen atoms. After that you won't see anything happen. Post your question for our scientists. Each step is clearly outlined and explained. Extra: Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. They look brown or black, and sometimes theyre so dirty looking that you cant even tell whether theyre pennies! If you are doing this with older children who can write you can have them write out a grid for penny comparison. 'Dry Ice Bubble, ' link: The negatively charged oxygen atoms in our air are attracted to the positively charged copper atoms in the penny. Adding salt to any of the acids (lemon juice, vinegar, etc) makes this acid cleaning more effective by creating free hydrogen atoms in the solution, which increases the acid's strength. For any other use, please contact Science Buddies. 12-Page Colour Download: . If you are in a hurry these two cups can be enough, but more solutions are better to give a full picture of what is happening. Phosphoric acid breaks down the copper oxygen compound and causes a new layer of the copper to be exposed. Sometimes, all you need is some glue, some baking soda or a few old pennies. Reviewed & Fact Checked byRebecca Carlock. Lesson Cover: 1 colour page It turns out that when you mix vinegar and salt, a chemical reaction takes place and form what is called hydrochloric acid. Wear safety goggles to avoid splash danger. Younger kids who cant yet write well can keep the pennies in front of the cups.). The friction does the work. KetchupSoak your pennies in ketchup to clean them like new. . The child might decide to pick a winning solution or even to rank the pennies in order of which is the most improved. Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. Examples: Vinegar, Coke, Mustard, Mayo, Juice, Milk, Lemon Juice, etc. Can you think of why time would be important? Great for President's Day! Salt and vinegar mixed together creates a chemical reaction to form hydrochloric acid, which is far more acidic than vinegar alone. Record your results; photographs are helpful. Cleaning Pennies Mr. Bond's Science Guys Read this: Life Lessons from the Scientific Method.). After quite some time, or after exposure to an acid, pennies will formcopper sulfate, carbonate, and chloride salts, which gives pennies a green color. If youre doing this with kids, this is a good time to ask them questions about the experiment. Then, you should have more acidic solutions like ketchup and the salt and vinegar mixture. In this activity were going to explore why pennies dont stay bright and shiny, and test different methods to bring the shine back! Remember, you will be working with only the vinegar salt mixture and the catsup. The soda cleans the pennies because it contains phosphoric acid. But if you really want to dig in you can guide your children through the scientific method while doing this. Want to wow your kids with some simple kitchen science? Students will create a booklet or for a quicker project, just print the worksheet. Penny Cleaning Science Project | LoveToKnow The chemical reaction that dissolves the copper oxide on your pennies is an ongoing process. We're going to try this out today! The pennies will be cleaner and brighter than before. Gently swirl the cup so that the penny is completely covered with Ketchup. Shine Bright Like aPenny! - Scientific American 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. So, the acetic acid in vinegar dissolves the copper oxide and cleans it. Place a square of clean, white paper towel in front of each cup. Your email address will not be published. 5. (Check out some cool Brainpop, Generation Genius, or Flocabulary videos for extra background knowledge) Your class will then, :- Teacher directions- vocabulary cards- 5 written response questions- border and borderl, 7 Easy Science Experiments To Teach The Scientific Method Bundle, Fun Experiments with Scientific Investigation Bundle. The next day, pour the soda out of the glass, careful to leave the pennies. 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!) 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Not only will you be improving them as an individual, you will also be strengthening the bond you share together. You simply add salt to vinegar and you end up making an even more acidic concoction? Antique Singer Sewing Machines That Changed the Game, Although they are often found at garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales with very low price tags, there are several models of antique Singer sewing machines that are highly sought after by co, 62+ Fun Family Night Ideas and Activities You'll Want to Give a Go, Family night ideas include fun games and activities any family can enjoy together at home or in their neighborhood. 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).
