Place a penny in it and cover the penny with ketchup. Try other materials containing small amounts of acid to see which produces the best results. Phosphoric acid breaks down the copper oxygen compound and causes a new layer of the copper to be exposed. Once 5 minutes 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!). All rights reserved. While the coins are air drying in the second stage, you can talk your kids through their findings of the first stage together! How do they feel? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But we think that that alone could not clean coins this quickly. 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. Take a few minutes to examine your chosen solutions. A chemical reaction between the vinegar and the salt removes copper oxide. Wear safety goggles to avoid splash danger. Ketchup and oranges have a high acid content as dovinegar and lemons. Step 1: Put the salt and vinegar in the bowl. Have your kids write down their findings on their piece of paper ready to summarize their findings and talk through the explanation. We had a blast, a physical example of chemical weathering, by looking at how the soda coke (or a generic version), . All rights reserved. 1. Vinegar and SaltMake a solution of vinegar and salt and let the pennies soak. They are going to love it! Copper oxide is blackish. This way, you wont mix up the coins when it comes to comparing them. 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. After cups are put away, remove goggles. You see, copper coins are usually shiny and well, copper-colored. 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. Luckily, there are a number of ways to clean pennies and make them look bright and shiny again, using chemistry! 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. Which one is still the dirtiest? Thats great to know Aayeshi. 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. Leave the control cups empty. But what about the ketchup? So if you look at the coin in the vinegar solution, it made the old coin a little bit brighter and less brown. The chlorine ions bond with the copper in solution forming some sort of copper chloride, allowing the acid to break more of the copper oxide free from the penny. Will using lemon juice and salt have better results than vinegar? Set one penny aside to act as your control. 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!) The soda cleans the pennies because it contains phosphoric acid. And so, these two liquids are the most acidic and therefore, the best coin cleaners! In each case, make sure the penny is completely covered by the contents of the cup. 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. Make your own mix of vinegar and salt at different concentrations. It also helps them practice graphing, determining independent and dependent variables, and analyzing experimental results. But heres the question that Im sure is brewing in your mind. The 25 Best Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers (Teacher Approved! Copyright 2023 Team Cartwright | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Having Twins is No Excuse! Thank you for sharing! Use your paper towels to gently dry off each penny, then place it in the corresponding square of your table. Check it out. If you have older kids, you can let them pour the soda. Step 1 Fill a glass cup with vinegar and pour it in a non-metallic bowl. We talked about the materials used for making, and the process of oxidation. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. My goal is to ease the burdens of educators by offering memorable learning activities. Rank your solutions from which cleaned the penny the best, to which cleaned it the worst. The coins that were submerged in those cups should come out nice and shiny, while the rest are still a little dull and dirty. Pennies rust overtime. What do your results tell you about the special properties of copper pennies? How to Wash Rothy's Shoes & Flats & Keep Them Odor Free. 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. If you line up your pennies in order from the dirtiest to the cleanest, the order should go something like this: Water, Soda/Fruit Juice, Vinegar, Ketchup, and Vinegar and salt mixture. The following titles name the 20, /activities.Shake It! Always happy to help! Drop eight to ten of the dirty pennies into the solution. Can you clearly see the date on the penny, or is it too dirty? Pop another coin in both the ketchup and vinegar and salt mixture. Add the pennies. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission is strictly prohibited. The Salt And Vinegar Method. You can read more on the science behind how to clean pennies here: Clean your pennies with ketchup! Leave the paper clip in the solution overnight. more information Accept. Hi, my name is Elena Jones, and my full-time job is a teacher. Ketchup is a weak acid (from the vinegar), and this acid breaks down the copper oxide. Dish soap. So, the liquids that have worked best in your experiment are the ones that are more acidic. When you add chlorine in that mix, the color turns bluish-green instead! 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. 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? Teachers- the materials are readily available! All you'll need is soda, a cup, pennies and some time. Plus, theyll learn some cool facts about metals, the pH scale, and the Statue of Liberty. Some common suggestions include: Plain water Soapy water Lemon juice Vinegar Vinegar with salt Ketchup Hot sauce Coca Cola Baking soda and water Apple, grape, or orange juice Milk Forming a Hypothesis Place each of the pennies in the 1 minute column into their corresponding cup. Which method works best is determined by the amount of acid present, and the presence of salt. Begin your control experiment. Check the ingredient list for your Ketchup and Tabasco sauce some of the labels might list vinegar or citric acid, while others might say tomato puree. Begin the experiment by placing a few pennies on a small plate. This spectacular 5-IN-1 BUNDLE: (Presidents' Day) I used this experiment for my science class and my teacher was super impressed. Students should also be able to identify if this change is chemical or physical. You have students write a hypothesis for what they think will happen in each solution and then let them soak. The "Penny Cleaning Experiment" is a product that provides a fun and educational activity for children and adults alike.This product is designed to teach people how to clean old, tarnished pennies using simple household items such as vinegar and salt. Record your results; photographs are helpful. Once the budding scientist has a pile of pennies, he or she should choose and collect their selection of cleaning solutions. Lesson Cover: 1 colour page Remember that at the very start, I said you should use only copper coins? . Well, after you wash the ketchup off, that is. Why is that? In this fun and easy kitchen science experiment for kids, we're going to use a chemical reaction to clean pennies. Wipe the penny off with a paper towel and rinse off. You dont have to stop after doing this once. Kids are naturally curious, and as their parent or guardian, you will want to encourage that as they grow older. Through teaching, I have discovered that children learn in many different ways, and have seen the positive impact both STEM and Montessori toys have on children. 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. Thanks for sharing! I believe learning should be enjoyable and engaging. We're going to try this out today! Place your pennies in a shallow bowl, and cover them with lemon juice. Through a penny cleaning science project, you can study atoms, chemical changes and observing processes through the scientific method, all of which are science lesson benchmarks for eighth grade. Kindergarten Math Practice with the Zap Zap Math App, Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child, Disclosure Policy & Copyright Information. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Wait for about 5-10 minutes. The salt and acetic acid in vinegar do the trick. What is the optimal time to leave the pennies in the cleaning solution? Make each cell (square) of the table large enough to place your penny in it after your testing is complete. Leave the coins in the liquid for 10 minutes. So we did a little experiment to see what would actually happen. Sign up to learn about our special events, clubs, camps, promotions and school programs. My goal is to encourage moms, find practical parenting solutions, and help moms with the unique challenges twins bring! All with pocket change actually. (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. You can only guess how highly acidic this ketchup must be! Are you getting the free resources, updates, and special offers we send out every week in our teacher newsletter? Teaching kids about science doesn't have to be intimidating. Step 3: Dump all the pennies into the liquid. So if you want to try this simple science experiment out at home, here is what you need to do: The first step you will have to do is to make your hypothesis. Lesson and Program Overview: 2 colour pages 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. Gently swirl the cup so that the penny is completely covered with Ketchup. While copper is a beautiful metal, it is also reactive. Have you ever wondered why some pennies are shiny and some are dull? What about soda? Now comes the hardest part of the experiment - the waiting. Compare all of the pennies to the control pennies. Simple, any age students! 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). The statue ismade of copper and it has turned bluish-green because of this copper-oxygen-chlorine reaction. Your Materials For This Science Experiment & Steps Combined. We laid our pennies out to look at them and were surprised with the results. ', ' link: Observe paper clips next day. Smear a small amount of toothpaste onto a dirty penny. Copper oxide is what causes pennies to become dull. 'Dry Ice Bubble, - Lesson 3 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 Hi! This post contains affiliate links. Afterwards, put one old coin in each cup. 12-Page Colour Download: 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. Wipe the excess ketchup off the pennies, then rinse them off. What do your results tell you about the special properties of copper pennies? 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. Stir in about one teaspoon of salt and mix until it dissolves. Most of the liquids (except the water) should have somewhat cleaned the coin. Add the salt, and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. . This looks like a great activity to do with my kiddos! Science: Project Cleaning Pennies Question: What products clean pennies the best? Make sure you stay with your kids during this part and engage with them. Who knew learning how to clean a penny could be so much fun? Let the pennies dry on pieces of paper towel. You might be surprised at how well the ketchup cleaned the penny. Science isnt a one and done thing. The negatively charged oxygen atoms in our air are attracted to the positively charged copper atoms in the penny. Place each of the pennies in the 1 minute column into their corresponding cup. Conclusions - Cleaning Pennies Cleaning Pennies Home The project that I made, consisted in cleaning up old and dirty pennies. As you are drying them, you'll notice that rubbing results in some of the dirt coming off the pennies. For any other use, please contact Science Buddies. Add highlights, virtual manipulatives, and more. In time, however, they get darker, brownish and dull. I preceded the, a presentation from the U.S. Mint site on how coins are made. What changes could you make to the experiment to get even cleaner pennies? Label each cup with a pen so you and your kids know what liquid is in each up. In this activity were going to explore why pennies dont stay bright and shiny, and test different methods to bring the shine back! The answer is pretty simple before 1982, pennies were made almost entirely from copper, and modern pennies are made of copper-plated zinc. Great for President's Day! Plus, there is another great reason to try this science experiment out youll be spending some quality time with your kids. Washing the pennies in a vinegar and salt solution removes the patina from the pennies, exposing the brighter copper underneath once more. Reviewed & Fact Checked byRebecca Carlock. Easy for planning and implementing, and the students love it. Theres a reason for that. Pennies are obviously made of copper, and they start out bright and shiny when they are new. (Dont believe me? Cleaning pennies with ketchup: easy and fun STEM for kids. TEN Quick and Easy Science Experiments for Kids! They can also consider which might clean the pennies fastest. Its that dull dark. chemistry, kitchen science experiments, coin experiments. As in ketchup, salt and vinegar . After several minutes . All you need are, , water, dish soap, salt, and vinegar. . Line these cups up in a row. Why did the catsup clean the coin as well as the vinegar + salt solution? So what just happened here? See a penny pick it up, all day long youll have good luck! maybe youve heard this phrase before, and maybe youve even stopped to pick up a lucky penny off the sidewalk. This is a great activity for using just exploring and giving open-ended questioning. It can be done relatively quickly and with multiple ages. She is an accomplished screenwriter, teacher and blogger. If you are looking for a fun and engaging way to keep kids passionate about learning, check out Groovy Lab in a Box. Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in screenwriting from New York University and a Master of Science in childhood education from Brooklyn College. The child should be prepared to discuss why they think some solutions were more effective than others. Citric acid works similarly to the other acids. Why do pennies get dark and dingy? Your email address will not be published. And it actually has a lot of practical life lessons wrapped up in it. This is why bright shiny pennies dull with age. Start by placing the Ketchup, 5 minutes penny into the cup labeled Ketchup 5. So in our case, we looked at the ingredients. I'm so glad you liked it! Teacher Notes: Photos and Youtube Video: 1 colour page Try more solutions. I am a former teacher turned homeschool mom of four kids. Thats Chemistry in action for you! This will help them to get thinking about the subject and soon, they will start to come up with their own questions. 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. After that you won't see anything happen. Do not add anything to the cup. This is because copper reacts to oxygen in the air and it turns into a compound called copper oxide. If you dont have a camera, look closely at the color of each penny. Examples: Vinegar, Coke, Mustard, Mayo, Juice, Milk, Lemon Juice, etc. The lab instructions are easy to follow and provide step-by-step guidance on how to conduct the, 5-IN-1 BUNDLE (Set 1 of 10) - Grades 4,5,6, What is in this '5-IN-1 BUNDLE'? The unlikely condiment you need to be sure to include? Extra: Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. You should have at least five different liquids ready to pour into each individual cup, but you can always add some more for fun. Place a square of clean, white paper towel in front of each cup. After a few minutes, remove the pennies from the bowl, and rinse them with water. In the third cup, put 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 teaspoons of salt. Quizzes with auto-grading, and real-time student data. 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). Students will practice NGSS skills such as asking questions, planning and carrying out an investigation, and analyzing and interpreting data. Leave them there for 10 minutes while you and your kids talk about the results of the first experiment. 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. The kids had a lot of fun and the sorting sheet helped keep the organized and on track. We are going to put the coins into different liquids, which of these liquids do you think will clean them? 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. So there you go, thats how it cleaned the coins too. In the second cup, put water mixed with dish soap. Finally, after about 30 minutes to 1 hour, look at the coins again. This is a weak acid, which is good since we ingest it. The acids (usually vinegar - acetic acid) break the copper oxide free from the penny. Slowly add water, 1 tablespoon at time, until youve created a paste. Answers to, Questions: 1 colour page Next, pour one liquid into each cup. 5. 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. A questionable aspect of this experiment is arisen with the change of the color of ammonia during the experiment. For a complete clean, flip the pennies over and repeat the process on the other side. Science - Lesson 6 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6, my middle school special education classroom. All you need for this science experiment are vinegar, salt, a glass jar, and dirty pennies.1. The next day, pour the soda out of the glass, careful to leave the pennies. You dont need any fancy gadgets or science kits. My kids had fun doing this, raiding their piggy banks to find some dirty pennies. Put a dollop of ketchup on a plate. What do you see? Just click on the image to find more science fun. Hot Sauce Hot sauce, like Tabasco or taco sauce, also will remove the oxides off pennies. 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. Here are the scientific method steps and some sample questions to help you work through it. For this experiment, you will need dirty pennies, paper towels, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, a tsp. Remember to be sensible and dont let them near any dangerous liquids like petroleum or bleach kids may come up with a few silly answers for fun, but as the adult, you need to draw the line at what is fun and what could be potentially dangers. Continue observations. I love coming up with simple and fun learning and STEM activities for kids. Oxygen in the atmosphere has a negative charge that is attracted to the positive charge of the copper in the penny. The classic coin cleaning experiment is an easy and affordable way to get your kids interested in science. Ask them questions, have them tell you what they see happening. Here is the science of cleaning pennies with ketchup. The child might decide to pick a winning solution or even to rank the pennies in order of which is the most improved. When copper reacts with oxygen and chlorine, it turns blue-green instead! This outlines all of the steps of scientific investigation. 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. How did this happen? Encourage this and get them to write down their supposed answers. 12-Page Black & White Download Carefully remove each penny from its solution. It is a step-by-step, that the students can perform on their own. Educational Toys And Child Development Research Studies. In this activity, were going to test a few different methods for cleaning pennies, and determine which gets our pennies the cleanest. After 10 minutes, take the coins out; but this time, dont wipe the coins clean. 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? Also after 10 mins none of them got cleaned but after an hour of the ketchup, it was mostly clean. 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. This product is designed to teach people how to clean old, tarnished, using simple household items such as vinegar and salt. Now check out your pennies. The chemical reaction that dissolves the copper oxide on your pennies is an ongoing process. Put 1 tablespoon Ketchup into each Ketchup cup. Therefore, each cleaning method you tested contained acid and salt, but the Ketchup and Tabasco sauce may have had a slightly weaker acid. Ketchup. However, in each case, the cleaning method that worked best for you is the one that has the highest concentration of acid. The acid in ketchup is acetic acid, commonly known as vinegar. Science - Lesson 4 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 While still scrubbing with the toothbrush, rinse the penny with room temperature water. Not only will you be improving them as an individual, you will also be strengthening the bond you share together. Begin by pouring the vinegar into the bowl. Stir until the salt dissolves. 2002-2023 LoveToKnow Media. Penny cleaning science projects are a popular choice at grade school science fairs - and for good reason. Look how much cleaner it is. You should have observed that each cleaning method made the pennies cleaner, but some methods may have been more successful than others. 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. 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. Place a penny in it and cover the penny with ketchup. Recently, we did thisCleaning Pennies Experimentand the results were surprising to my kids. 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! The pennies will be cleaner and brighter than before. This activity helps students to see and experience the properties of water- including Adhesion, Cohesion, and Surface Tension. If you want things to be fun and messy, you can always have your kids use their hands as long as you are happy to deal with the consequences of ketchup-coated fingers! Pencil EraserUse a common pencil eraser on your pennies to remove the oxides like mistakes on paper. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. The ketchup is most likely what will surprise your kids the most (and lets be honest perhaps you too!). it does not say the date and author on the website! Which solution will clean copper pennies the best, soap and water, Lemon Juice , vinegar and salt, coca cola, or ketchup? Cover the pennies with each of the mixtures, smear them around with your fingers, and give the ingredients at least 2 minutes to react. Make sure your child doesn't lick the pennies or try to eat any because ketchup is tasty. Since we have 6 different liquids here, its best to properly label each cup. The vinegar + salt mixture and the ketchup will have come out as the clear winners. Thanks a lot Meriley. follow up activities, 10 graphing activities for graphing the hypothesis. 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. They react to form copper oxide, which is darker in color. What do you notice about each penny? Its a great way to get their young minds critically thinking, and also challenges them to solve problems using logic. 'Elephant's Toothpaste, - Lesson 4 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 As in ketchup, salt and vinegar are both in hot sauce. The project above is a DEMONSTRATION. 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). But, can make them shiny and new again. 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. 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. And see whats the sciencebehind this phenomena. In this case, talk with the young scientist about which solutions he or she thinks will best clean the pennies. 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. The experiment can be done with just as much fun and learning without using this tool. Mix one tablespoon of salt with half a cup of vinegar in a small container and stir until the salt dissolves. 'Balloon Powered Rocket, that looks at what house hold solutions will be best to. Its exactly the same reaction thats happening to the dearly beloved Statue of Liberty! The soda cleans the pennies because it contains phosphoric acid. Students try to figure out how many drops of water can fit on a, , and also test which types of water work best (Tap water, Salt water, Soapy water). Next, drop in a dirty penny and stir. Extra: Experiment with even longer periods of time with each of the cleaning methods. 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. Step 2: Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Vinegar and lemon juice are both acids. Which penny is the cleanest, compared to the control? Step by Step Procedure: There are two different stages to this Science activity. 20-30 dull pennies 1/4 cup white vinegar (dilute acetic acid) 1 teaspoon salt (NaCl) 1 shallow, clear glass or plastic bowl (not metal) 1-2 clean steel screws or nails water measuring spoons paper towels Shiny Clean Pennies Pour the salt and vinegar into the bowl. It isn't just dirt, it is the result of the copper in the pennies interacting with oxygen in the atmosphere. 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, .
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