Ketchup and oranges have a high acid content as dovinegar and lemons. Place the penny (tails side up) on a flat surface. Salt and vinegar mixed together creates a chemical reaction to form hydrochloric acid, which is far more acidic than vinegar alone. In the second cup, put water mixed with dish soap. They look brown or black, and sometimes theyre so dirty looking that you cant even tell whether theyre pennies! After the 10 minutes have passed, use the tweezers to take the coins out of each cup. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This blue-green is called malachite and copper can turn into malachite over many years of exposure to chlorine and oxygen. Lesson and Program Overview: 2 colour pages Dry the pennies with a paper towel. This is why bright shiny pennies dull with age. When you add chlorine in that mix, the color turns bluish-green instead! The salt and acetic acid in vinegar do the trick. The classic coin cleaning experiment is an easy and affordable way to get your kids interested in science. Luckily, there are a number of ways to clean pennies and make them look bright and shiny again, using chemistry! Stir until the salt dissolves. 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, that looks at what house hold solutions will be best to. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Pennies are good for more than just buying penny candy. The unlikely condiment you need to be sure to include? 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. Your email address will not be published. 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! Label each cup with a pen so you and your kids know what liquid is in each up. We use cookies and those of third party providers to deliver the best possible web experience and to compile statistics. Lab, Students of all ages have fun doing this easy, ! Its that dull dark. 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. TPT empowers educators to teach at their best. We are going to put the coins into different liquids, which of these liquids do you think will clean them? Gently wipe off any excess solution with a paper towel. Just don't drink the coke afterward. This is because when the hydrochloric solution cleaned the coin and air dried it, it also took with it some of the salt. of salt and a bowl, preferably metal. Here is a step by step walkthrough of the experiment so you dont get forget what to do or lose track of where you are: Once this is all done, you may be tempted to clean everything but not yet! Science - Lesson 4 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 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. 12-Page Black & White Download The experiment can be done with just as much fun and learning without using this tool. It appears, the salt breaks down somewhat, freeing chlorine ions into the solution. It is a great sensory STEM activity for preschoolers and older children. 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. Recently, we did thisCleaning Pennies Experimentand the results were surprising to my kids. Wipe the excess ketchup off the pennies, then rinse them off. When the Statue of Liberty was originally built in 1875, it was not the same blue-green color it is today. Pour cup of baking soda into one of your plastic cups. Once they are clean place them on the towels you laid out in front of the cups. 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!). i thought that this was very helpful all five of my kids did this and they got an A so yea, gunna use this for my science project at school:D, well i think this experiment was welled organized but it could have showed more steps in the process of how they started from beginning to end also it could have said how long did it sit in the liquid, did they whip it off or not, showed what color was the coin at first etc, This is a great experiment im in 7th grade my science teacher was shocked. Im Colleen, gifted specialist, educational consultant,author,speaker, andhomeschool momof four gifted/twice-exceptional kids. 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. Simple, any age students! Could you have cleaner pennies if you just used running water? Great for President's Day! 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. Find out! This website is helpful to me but,add more steps and I think it can be more helpful. This is a weak acid, which is good since we ingest it. 1/2 cup vinegar. They will need one tarnished, dirty-looking penny for every solution chosen plus one extra as a control (meaning that nothing will be done to this final penny). When the oxygen and the copper on the coins' outsides interact, a substance called copper oxide is formed. If you have dirty, dull, or green pennies lying around, try the cleaning pennies science experiment to turn them bright again! So there you go, thats how it cleaned the coins too. Use your paper and pencil to create a table like the one below. Gently swirl the cup so that the penny is completely covered with Ketchup. Sign up to learn about our special events, clubs, camps, promotions and school programs. Oranges? So when it comes to cleaning old copper coins, then you will want a solution that gets rid of copper oxide and copper oxide dissolves easily in acids. Plus, there is another great reason to try this science experiment out youll be spending some quality time with your kids. 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. Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. First, prepare all your cups and line them up on a counter. 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. In time, however, they get darker, brownish and dull. If you enjoyed this cleaning pennies experiment, you'll love: Wow! 2 teaspoons salt. Why or why not? And also, dont forget to Subscribe to our channel for more fun kids activities. 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. Smear a small amount of toothpaste onto a dirty penny. Why is that? To make it a true experiment, you can try to answer these . Science - Lesson 5 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 In this lesson, the students will predict why some. Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in screenwriting from New York University and a Master of Science in childhood education from Brooklyn College. Write the name of each liquid on a strip of paper and put one strip beside the cup to mark it. So if you look at the coin in the vinegar solution, it made the old coin a little bit brighter and less brown. I preceded the, a presentation from the U.S. Mint site on how coins are made. 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. While still scrubbing with the toothbrush, rinse the penny with room temperature water. 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. And it actually has a lot of practical life lessons wrapped up in it. 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. But still fun expiriment!! Theres a reason for that. I am a former teacher turned homeschool mom of four kids. Keep trying, keep asking why, and keep learning. And see whats the sciencebehind this phenomena. We would recommend you use any liquids from the following list for the best results: Now, you can get to the fun part carrying out the experiment! So, the liquids that have worked best in your experiment are the ones that are more acidic. 'Fire Water Balloon, 25-IN-1 BUNDLE (Set 1 of 2) - Grades 4,5,6, What is in this '25-IN-1 BUNDLE'? Line these cups up in a row. Pencil EraserUse a common pencil eraser on your pennies to remove the oxides like mistakes on paper. 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. Begin by pouring the vinegar into the bowl. Did you do the 2nd stage of this cleaning coins experiment? Set one penny aside to act as your control. The 25 Best Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers (Teacher Approved! 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. Let the pennies dry on pieces of paper towel. If you have older kids, you can let them pour the soda. There is a second stage to this experiment that you can also try out, and the only extra materials you will need is two more old pennies and some more paper towels. Create a solution of vinegar and salt using one teaspoon of salt and 1/4 of a cup of vinegar. (You may need to push the one in the catsup to get it fully submerged). Extra: Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Place the pennies in the bowl, and allow them to sit for several minutes. 'Dry Ice Bubble, - Lesson 3 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 Keep it out of reach with a note to be sure no one drinks the soda. Can you clearly see the date on the penny, or is it too dirty? Always happy to help! Mix until the salt is dissolved (it helps if the vinegar is a little warm). The negatively charged oxygen atoms in our air are attracted to the positively charged copper atoms in the penny. None of our pennies were dull anymore, and some were downright shiny! 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. The pennies will be cleaner and brighter than before. 2 or More Additional Solutions. Science - Lesson 6 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6, my middle school special education classroom. Once you have completed the process dont be afraid to go back and work through it again. Here's what a young scientist will need to get started: In order to perform this simple experiment, do the following: Once the results are in, talk to the child about which pennies look the cleanest and if they can see any patterns regarding which solutions seemed to do the best job. This is a fun and easy STEM activity that introduces the idea of oxidation and basic chemical reactions. 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. In each case, make sure the penny is completely covered by the contents of the cup. Explore this article things needed 1 Preparation 2 Collect pennies of varying color Collect pennies of varying color. Gather up a few dirty pennies. Learn how to wash Rothy's shoes so your go-to flats and loafers always look their best. This will help them to get thinking about the subject and soon, they will start to come up with their own questions. Try leaving the pennies in the solutions for different lengths of time. Observe paper clips next day. Leave the control cups empty. We are actually performing a chemical reaction that breaks down the copper oxide. Science: Project Cleaning Pennies Question: What products clean pennies the best? Rank your solutions from which cleaned the penny the best, to which cleaned it the worst. Are you getting the free resources, updates, and special offers we send out every week in our teacher newsletter? Cover the pennies with each of the mixtures, smear them around with your fingers, and give the ingredients at least 2 minutes to react. 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. As in ketchup, salt and vinegar . Record your results; photographs are helpful. 10 very dirty pennies (the dirtier the better! You can find this page online at: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/shine-bright-like-apenny. . 12-Page Colour Download: All pennies start out the same color beautiful and bright copper. Thanks a lot Meriley. In this activity you experimented with 4 different cleaning methods to determine which was the most effective at cleaning pennies. Step 3: Dump all the pennies into the liquid. How To Be On Time with Kids, Keep the Crib: How To Keep Your Toddler From Escaping, STEM Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers, Simple Sensory Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers, Toddler Learning Activities: Easy and Fun Educational Games for Toddlers, Process Art Activities for Kids (And Why Process Art Is So Important), Valentines Day STEM and Learning Activities, St. Patricks Day STEM and Learning Activities, Breastfeeding Twins: Your Ultimate Resource Guide, Cleaning Pennies with Ketchup: The Activity, Cleaning Pennies with Ketchup: The Science, Cleaning Pennies with Ketchup: The Scientific Method, cleaning pennies with ketchup explanation, easy and fun science experiments for kids, easy and fun science experiments for preschoolers, simple science experiments for preschoolers, Rising Water Experiment - Magic Water Science Experiment, Easy Weather Science Experiments for Preschoolers and Toddlers, Redshirting Kindergarten: Why We are Waiting Until 6 To Start. Step by Step Procedure: There are two different stages to this Science activity. Cleaning Pennies Science Experiment for Kids. After 10 minutes, use your tweezers to take the coins out of each cup. Finally, wipe the coins dry with a tea towel or kitchen paper. How do they smell? When oxygen binds with copper, they form a new molecule known as copper oxide. Citric acid works similarly to the other acids. Can you think of why time would be important? Teacher Notes: Student Write-Up Sample: 1 colour page This will help them understand whats going on. You have students write a hypothesis for what they think will happen in each solution and then let them soak. Which penny is the cleanest, compared to its before picture? Place each of the pennies in the 1 minute column into their corresponding cup. What is changing? They are going to love it! Have you ever wondered why some pennies are shiny and some are dull? The oxygen in the air and the copper in the pennies form an oxide that coats the pennies and makes them look dirty. The ketchup is most likely what will surprise your kids the most (and lets be honest perhaps you too!). ), 20 Best Sensory Tables Ideas for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers, Science Fair For Kids: The Battle of the Senses (Taste vs., solutions like ketchup and the salt and vinegar mixture, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhAgQEr1LOE, Can Ketchup Clean a Penny? For this experiment, you will need dirty pennies, paper towels, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, a tsp. Let the pennies sit in the soda overnight. Answers to, Questions: 1 colour page I have an easy science experiment for you today. 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. And what is vinegar? Kids will get all the supplies they need to complete the activities in addition to a cool lab book .Subscribe here. You can dispose of any extra ketchup how you normally would. Dont be afraid to use all your senses. This easy and fun science experiment teaches kids about chemical reactions in a way that seems like magic! All rights reserved. Place a square of clean, white paper towel in front of each cup. Conclusions - Cleaning Pennies Cleaning Pennies Home The project that I made, consisted in cleaning up old and dirty pennies. What do your results tell you about the special properties of copper pennies? Science - Lesson 1 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 At the end students write which solution, Lab Activity" is an engaging and interactive lab, designed for high school and college biology classes. Which one is still the dirtiest? How to Create an Escape Room for Teaching, 50 Homeschool Science Experiments (that cost next to nothing) | Free Homeschool Deals . 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. 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! This is a great activity for using just exploring and giving open-ended questioning. This spectacular 5-IN-1 BUNDLE: (Presidents' Day) Well try and put up the next stage soon. Put one penny in each of the liquids and make sure it's fully submerged. I'm giving you a shout out on the post. Who knew learning how to clean a penny could be so much fun? In this fun and easy kitchen science experiment for kids, we're going to use a chemical reaction to clean pennies. This is also why the salt and vinegar mixture was a better coin cleaner than just vinegar alone. All you need is a couple of old copper coins, some different liquids and a few other tools. This activity helps students to see and experience the properties of water- including Adhesion, Cohesion, and Surface Tension. Make three signs that say "Tomato Paste + Vinegar," "Salt + Vinegar," and "Tomato Paste + Salt.". Doing a simple science experiment with them now and again helps encourage them to ask questions and learn, as well as improve important life skills like communication, critical thinking, and problem solving. Your email address will not be published. ', ' link: If you dont have a camera, look closely at the color of each penny. Copyright 2002-2023 Science Buddies. Copper oxide is what causes pennies to become dull. However, that uniquely, How to Clean Nike Air Force 1s so They're Good as New. And because this mixture is way up high in the acidic scale, it cleaned the coin so much better and quicker than just vinegar. If you are doing this with older children who can write you can have them write out a grid for penny comparison. The kids had a lot of fun and the sorting sheet helped keep the organized and on track. This is why most pennies you see look dirty or tarnished, its not actually dirt, but copper-oxide that makes them look so dull. Chemical reactions are responsible for the change in a pennys appearance over time. You dont need any fancy gadgets or science kits. 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! Once the budding scientist has a pile of pennies, he or she should choose and collect their selection of cleaning solutions. more information Accept. Curious about the science? Have your kids write down their findings on their piece of paper ready to summarize their findings and talk through the explanation. Put 1 tablespoon of Vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt into each Vinegar cup. Pre-made digital activities. Science - Lesson 2 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 Leave the paper clip in the solution overnight. So in our case, we looked at the ingredients. This bluish-green color is called Malachite. After several minutes .
