We talked about the materials used for making, and the process of oxidation. The salt helps speed up the reaction. I love coming up with simple and fun learning and STEM activities for kids. Read this: Life Lessons from the Scientific Method.). We are actually performing a chemical reaction that breaks down the copper oxide. Get your copper coins out of the containers where theyve been hiding for many years and get them cleaned. TPT empowers educators to teach at their best. The next day, pour the soda out of the glass, careful to leave the pennies. Place a penny in it and cover the penny with ketchup. Cleaning Coins Experiment [Procedure And Explanation] - Gally Kids #sciencegoals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhAgQEr1LOE), Top 20 Musical Toys for Babies Under 6 Months, Best Guide On How To Encourage Motor Development In Babies, Science Fair Ideas for Kids: Manipulating Gases with Balloons, Science Fair For Kids: The Battle of the Senses (Taste vs. 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!). Pennies turn dull and green due to oxidation. All you need is a couple of old copper coins, some different liquids and a few other tools. Put one penny in each of the liquids and make sure it's fully submerged. The soda cleans the pennies because it contains phosphoric acid. Here is the science of cleaning pennies with ketchup. Record this number on your data table under trial 1. Wipe the coins dry with their paper towels and compare them. How do they feel? After a few minutes, remove the pennies from the bowl, and rinse them with water. My goal is to encourage moms, find practical parenting solutions, and help moms with the unique challenges twins bring! MAKE IT AN EXPERIMENT. Today is the day you take out your old coins and declare this day, coin cleaning day. 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. This takes more work than the others, however. Toasted Italian Sandwich - Food Fun Friday. Set one penny aside to act as your control. Here is how to set up your cleaning pennies experiment. You need just a few things for this experiment: Create a solution of vinegar and salt using one teaspoon of salt and 1/4 of a cup of vinegar. What Juice Cleans Pennies Best Science Fair Projects Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagramto see new experiments! And don't worry, I give the science behind it all! In the first cup, put plain water. Have you ever wondered why some pennies are shiny and some are dull? (Glass Or Cup) Upside Down Water Experiment : An Amazing Science Trick! Make sure your child doesn't lick the pennies or try to eat any because ketchup is tasty. Avoid unsightly marks and scratches by learning how to clean sunglasses the right way. Coke contains phosphoric acid that cleans the oxides. Science - Lesson 4 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 Put a dollop of ketchup on a plate. Learn how to wash Rothy's shoes so your go-to flats and loafers always look their best. They look brown or black, and sometimes theyre so dirty looking that you cant even tell whether theyre pennies! It is a great sensory STEM activity for preschoolers and older children. Science isnt a one and done thing. 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. (You may need to push the one in the catsup to get it fully submerged). But if you really want to dig in you can guide your children through the scientific method while doing this. follow up activities, 10 graphing activities for graphing the hypothesis. Could you have cleaner pennies if you just used running water? What do your results tell you about the special properties of copper pennies? Did you get to the same conclusion that the ketchup and the vinegar + salt mixture cleaned the coins the most? Cleaning Pennies Science Experiment for Kids - Raising Lifelong Learners This product is designed to teach people how to clean old, tarnished, using simple household items such as vinegar and salt. The friction does the work. 12-Page Colour Download: When the penny is clean, remove it, rinse it with fresh water, and set it aside to dry. It can be done relatively quickly and with multiple ages. Your kids will love this simple chemistry experiment. Experiments on Cleaning Pennies | Sciencing Its exactly the same reaction thats happening to the dearly beloved Statue of Liberty! This is an instruction and recording sheet for our, (as outlined) is to determine if soapy water or ketchup will, more efficiently. Take the penny from the Ketchup,1 minutes square of your table, and place it in the Ketchup 1 cup. Teaching kids about science doesn't have to be intimidating. This product is designed to teach people how to clean old, tarnished pennies using simple household items such as vinegar and salt. Step 2: Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Dish soap. Chemistry Experiments With Pennies - ThoughtCo To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these . Sign up to learn about our special events, clubs, camps, promotions and school programs. Answers to, Questions: 1 colour page Curious about the science? 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. Set one penny aside to act as your control. Leave the coins to air dry for at least 30 minutes. Stir until the salt dissolves. And see whats the sciencebehind this phenomena. The salt and acetic acid in vinegar do the trick. The coins that were submerged in those cups should come out nice and shiny, while the rest are still a little dull and dirty. At the end students write which solution, Lab Activity" is an engaging and interactive lab, designed for high school and college biology classes. Compare the penny from the ketchup to the control penny. How does time affect the cleanliness of the pennies? 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. This blue-green is called malachite and copper can turn into malachite over many years of exposure to chlorine and oxygen. Rocking Chair, Glider, or Recliner for the Nursery: Is It Worth It? 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). While copper is a beautiful metal, it is also reactive. Which solution will clean copper pennies the best, soap and water, Lemon Juice , vinegar and salt, coca cola, or ketchup? To get your kids involved, ask them a few questions about pennies and cleaning them. To begin, the experimenter and supervising adult should plan out which solutions they have access to and can use to test their penny-cleaning capabilities. After cups are put away, remove goggles. First, put the coins back into the same mixture as the one you used in the first experiment. This is a great activity for using just exploring and giving open-ended questioning. Place your Control, 1 minutes penny into the Control 1 cup. Lesson Cover: 1 colour page We are going to put the coins into different liquids, which of these liquids do you think will clean them? Instructions. Fill the eyedropper with water from the water beaker and carefully count the number of drops that fit on the penny until the water spills over the edge. Student Write-Up Template and Question Sheet: 5 colour pages When the oxygen and the copper on the coins' outsides interact, a substance called copper oxide is formed. The word "tarnish" refers to the dull or gray-green coloration found on some older pennies. Copyright 2023 Team Cartwright | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Having Twins is No Excuse! This packet includes a direction list/timeline for the teacher, class observation form, 2 different CER responses (one, and one without a graphic organizer) AND an opportunity for students to graph and a, , and Which Type of Water Works Best? This is a pretty safe experiment. more information Accept. The 25 Best Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers (Teacher Approved! A variety of products can be used to keep your pennies looking shiny and new. The Salt And Vinegar Method. Examples: Vinegar, Coke, Mustard, Mayo, Juice, Milk, Lemon Juice, etc. Finally, after about 30 minutes to 1 hour, look at the coins again. Cleaning pennies with ketchup: easy and fun STEM for kids. Go back to the table you drew. The negatively charged oxygen atoms in our air are attracted to the positively charged copper atoms in the penny. 'Fire Water Balloon, ' link: These boxes are presented in partnership with Popular Mechanics so you know you'll be getting some great stuff each month. You can watch them change for the first few seconds. It does this by using the low levels of acids that are contained naturally in vinegar and lemon juice to remove the patina (brown oxidation) on the penny. You can dispose of any extra ketchup how you normally would. Materials: -pennies, fabuloso, ketchup, coke, lemon juice, paper . 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. 'Balloon Powered Rocket, ' link: Label each cup with a pen so you and your kids know what liquid is in each up. So what just happened here? Im going to use this for my science project at school but im going to do it for more then 10 minutes. Chemical reactions, acidity, copper oxidation. Keep trying, keep asking why, and keep learning. Before you start, its important to take note that for this cleaning coins experiment to work, you need coins made of copper; otherwise, this will not work. Start a 1 minute timer. While the coins are air drying in the second stage, you can talk your kids through their findings of the first stage together! Chemical reactions are responsible for the change in a pennys appearance over time. Whats in the Bag?Making MusicMouse Paint (, gel frosting)Rain PaintSecret MessagesDucks Like RainFloat or Sink PumpkinsDo Seeds Travel?VolcanoesThe Windy DayDo Whales Get Cold?Candle RacesWh, Rated 4.92 out of 5, based on 838 reviews, . I'm so happy you're here!! Conclusion: The hypothesis was proven true, and the pennies, were best cleaned by the strongest acid, which in this experiment was lemon juice. Extra: Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. ', ' link: This is your control. That is why old coins look, well, old and new coins are bright and shiny. Then, you should have more acidic solutions like ketchup and the salt and vinegar mixture. What do you notice about each penny? 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. Simple, any age students! First, prepare all your cups and line them up on a counter. The chemical reaction that dissolves the copper oxide on your pennies is an ongoing process. I have included 4 recording sheets to go along. Your Materials For This Science Experiment & Steps Combined. Extra: Can you think of other safe household acids you could test? When 1 minute has passed, rinse each cup with water until the inside of the cup and the pennies are clean (be careful not to lose your penny!). Make sure you stay with your kids during this part and engage with them. Repeat the process until the penny reaches the desired shininess. 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. Well, after you wash the ketchup off, that is. Its acid! Plus, theyll learn some cool facts about metals, the pH scale, and the Statue of Liberty. As in ketchup, salt and vinegar . 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. In this activity, were going to test a few different methods for cleaning pennies, and determine which gets our pennies the cleanest. 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? I'm giving you a shout out on the post. Were there any cleaning methods where the time didnt matter, so the 1 minute and 5 minute pennies are equally clean? Leave the coins in the liquid for 10 minutes. 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). 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. Put a dollop of ketchup on a plate. Be sure to include one water cup as a control and one ketchup cup. Can you clearly see Abraham Lincoln? Just put the coins on the tea towel and leave it to air dry. Penny Cleaning Experiment - Instructables Thanks for the rare idea to wash penny. Penny Cleaning Science Project | LoveToKnow The step-by-step instructions included in this digital product are easy to follow and are accompanied by colorful illustrations that make the . Pop another coin in both the ketchup and vinegar and salt mixture. Ketchup is a weak acid (from the vinegar), and this acid breaks down the copper oxide. Pre-made digital activities. 'Balloon Powered Rocket. 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. Who knew learning how to clean a penny could be so much fun? 1. Carefully remove each penny from its solution. 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). Add the pennies. Keep the pennies in the cup. Stage 1: First, prepare all your cups and line them up. Compare the penny from the ketchup to the control penny. Drop eight to ten of the dirty pennies into the solution. You simply add salt to vinegar and you end up making an even more acidic concoction? Cover the pennies with each of the mixtures, smear them around with your fingers, and give the ingredients at least 2 minutes to react. This is because when the hydrochloric solution cleaned the coin and air dried it, it also took with it some of the salt. Copper oxide is what causes pennies to become dull. Once they are clean place them on the towels you laid out in front of the cups. Repeat step 4 two more times. Cleaning Coins Experiment [Procedure And Explanation] Its a great way to get their young minds critically thinking, and also challenges them to solve problems using logic. As it is easy to see, the ingredient that had the greatest impact was vinegar with salt, and the one who had the lower impact was water. The students have to come up, a question, make a hypothesis, conduct an, a conclusion. Copper oxide is blackish. Begin your control experiment. Let the pennies dry on pieces of paper towel. You can read more on the science behind how to clean pennies here: Clean your pennies with ketchup! If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. So there you go, thats how it cleaned the coins too. And the best example of this reaction is the Statue of Liberty. Since we have 6 different liquids here, its best to properly label each cup. Will using lemon juice and salt have better results than vinegar? Science Activity: Turn Old Pennies Bright and Shiny! | Exploratorium Stir until the salt dissolves. Wait for about 5-10 minutes. Teacher Notes: Photos and Youtube Video: 1 colour page 'Balloon Powered Rocket, - Lesson 2 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 Penny cleaning science projects are a popular choice at grade school science fairs - and for good reason. Privacy. Repeat the experiment with the same pennies in a new solution of vinegar and salt and see if you can make them even brighter! Create a solution of vinegar and salt using one teaspoon of salt and 1/4 of a cup of vinegar. This is why bright shiny pennies dull with age. This website is helpful to me but,add more steps and I think it can be more helpful. Update Includes Google Slides version for distance learning, Rated 4.77 out of 5, based on 172 reviews, " is a product that provides a fun and educational activity for children and adults alike. Hold it there for about 10 seconds, then pull it out. that is nice sure for kids. CokeCoke and off-brand colas will quickly remove the tarnish. Citrus JuiceTry a variety of citrus juices to see which works best or simply let your pennies soak in lemon juice. My kids had fun doing this, raiding their piggy banks to find some dirty pennies. It turns out that when you mix vinegar and salt, a chemical reaction takes place and form what is called hydrochloric acid. Recently, we did thisCleaning Pennies Experimentand the results were surprising to my kids. You dont need any fancy gadgets or science kits. Update Includes Google Slides version for distance learning science experime Subjects: Just don't drink the coke afterward. 10 very dirty pennies (the dirtier the better! You are going to challenge your children to clean pennies with various kitchen condiments. 'Elephant's Toothpaste, ' link: Gently swirl the cup so that the penny is completely covered with Ketchup. Lab, Students of all ages have fun doing this easy, ! Using the tape and marker, label each dish or cup with the name of the solution that will go into it. Therefore, each cleaning method you tested contained acid and salt, but the Ketchup and Tabasco sauce may have had a slightly weaker acid. 3. Analysis and Graph - Cleaning Pennies also after an hour of the salt and vinegar, the salt made the coin super duper weird and worse. However, in each case, the cleaning method that worked best for you is the one that has the highest concentration of acid. If you dont have a camera, look closely at the color of each penny. After 10 minutes, take the coins out; but this time, dont wipe the coins clean. Materials: Dirty pennies Glass Vinegar Salt Measuring spoons Paper towels Instructions: Fill the glass about halfway full with vinegar.