), and then explain why the salt and vinegar is the winner (sorry to give it awa, enrichment project during our money unit. (we used our hands very messy business especially with the catsup but the kids thought that was fun!) You can dispose of any extra ketchup how you normally would. While the coins are submerged in the cups, lay out some paper towels or kitchen paper and label each towel so you know which coin is going where. Book a Science PartyHave the Science Guy visit your school! Aplus Education Ltd with Vaughan M Blaney, Students love to collect and bring in a dirty, it and why using the scientific method! Its exactly the same reaction thats happening to the dearly beloved Statue of Liberty! *Note: This activity works best if you use 10 pennies that are equally dirty. In each case, make sure the penny is completely covered by the contents of the cup. Hi, I'm Kim! 2. I love coming up with simple and fun learning and STEM activities for kids. Leave the control cups empty. Wet a toothbrush and begin scrubbing the penny. Wipe the penny off with a paper towel and rinse off. We laid our pennies out to look at them and were surprised with the results. The vinegar + salt mixture and the ketchup will have come out as the clear winners. Once there's a working hypothesis, the experiment itself can begin. Did you get to the same conclusion that the ketchup and the vinegar + salt mixture cleaned the coins the most? This is also why the salt and vinegar mixture was a better coin cleaner than just vinegar alone. 1. First, prepare all your cups and line them up. (Keeping the pennies in front of the cups will help you remember which solution they were each in. Explore this article things needed 1 Preparation 2 Collect pennies of varying color Collect pennies of varying color. Well, after you wash the ketchup off, that is. (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. My kids had fun doing this, raiding their piggy banks to find some dirty pennies. Add the pennies. If you are looking for an easy way to engage your kids with science, then why dont you try out the classic cleaning coins experiment? 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. When you are done with this fun experiment, check outMaking Pennies Green. Recently, we did thisCleaning Pennies Experimentand the results were surprising to my kids. Now, when copper reacts to oxygen, it turns dark brown to make copper oxide. At the end students write which solution, Lab Activity" is an engaging and interactive lab, designed for high school and college biology classes. One of my daughters thought that the pennies would get dissolved while my other daughter thought the soda would make the pennies dirtier. Take a few minutes to examine your chosen solutions. This is because when the hydrochloric solution cleaned the coin and air dried it, it also took with it some of the salt. If you are looking for a fun and engaging way to keep kids passionate about learning, check out Groovy Lab in a Box. Which is the least clean? Add the salt, and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Wait about 5 minutes, then remove the pennies from the solution. Teaching kids about science doesn't have to be intimidating. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. 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. Start by placing the Ketchup, 5 minutes penny into the cup labeled Ketchup 5. Its that dull dark. 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. Why do you think this might be? method. Water is the worst because it is a neutral liquid, meaning that it sits smack in the middle of the pH scale. 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! What changes could you make to the experiment to get even cleaner pennies? Her articles appear on the Sixth Wall and other websites. What about soda? The word "tarnish" refers to the dull or gray-green coloration found on some older pennies. If you enjoyed this cleaning pennies experiment, you'll love: Wow! Add highlights, virtual manipulatives, and more. You may print and distribute up to 200 copies of this document annually, at no charge, for personal and classroom educational use. And it even had added acetic acid! She is an accomplished screenwriter, teacher and blogger. How do they feel? Do not add anything to the cup. But the vinegar by itself didnt clean the coin as well as the vinegar + salt solution! Here is the science of cleaning pennies with ketchup. Make your own mix of vinegar and salt at different concentrations. 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. Which one do they think will clean the coin the most? Drop the pennies into the soda. (You may need to push the one in the catsup to get it fully submerged). Well try and put up the next stage soon. 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. by Brenda Priddy | Jul 12, 2017 | Homeschool |. Phosphoric acid breaks down the copper oxygen compound and causes a new layer of the copper to be exposed. Can you clearly see the date on the penny, or is it too dirty? What about soda? Place your pennies in a shallow bowl, and cover them with lemon juice. This will be where you place your coins for comparison. Copyright 2023 Team Cartwright | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Having Twins is No Excuse! . Put a dollop of ketchup on a plate. Add the pennies. Compare the penny from the ketchup to the control penny. First, put the coins back into the same mixture as the one you used in the first experiment. Posted on Last updated: July 4, 2021 By: Author Kim. The reason for this is that copper has quite the relationship with Oxygenthat isthey react to each other. Rocking Chair, Glider, or Recliner for the Nursery: Is It Worth It? 'Balloon Powered Rocket, that looks at what house hold solutions will be best to. CokeCoke and off-brand colas will quickly remove the tarnish. While still scrubbing with the toothbrush, rinse the penny with room temperature water. chemistry, kitchen science experiments, coin experiments. If you are doing this with older children who can write you can have them write out a grid for penny comparison. Lesson and Program Overview: 2 colour pages If you have dirty, dull, or green pennies lying around, try the cleaning pennies science experiment to turn them bright again! 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. After 10 minutes, use your tweezers to take the coins out of each cup. I am a former teacher turned homeschool mom of four kids. 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. (Dont believe me? Hold it there for about 10 seconds, then pull it out. Put one penny in each of the liquids and make sure it's fully submerged. Could you have cleaner pennies if you just used running water? Extra: Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. All rights reserved. What do your results tell you about the special properties of copper pennies? The ketchup is most likely what will surprise your kids the most (and lets be honest perhaps you too!). Step 4: Using the tape and marker, label each dish or cup with the name of the solution that will go into it. When you add chlorine in that mix, the color turns bluish-green instead! 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, . This takes more work than the others, however. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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! 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. Extra: Can you think of other safe household acids you could test? And be sure to share these additional fun learning activities with your kids! After cups are put away, remove goggles. Water. Make sure your child doesn't lick the pennies or try to eat any because ketchup is tasty. Ketchup also contains a lot of salt, which helps add to its acidity. I'm so glad you liked it! All you need are pennies, water, dish soap, salt, and vinegar. What happens? The answer is pretty simple before 1982, pennies were made almost entirely from copper, and modern pennies are made of copper-plated zinc. This is a pretty safe experiment. Wipe the coins dry with their paper towels and compare them. from Science Buddies http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-activities. PRINT AND GO STEM BUNDLE. It isn't just dirt, it is the result of the copper in the pennies interacting with oxygen in the atmosphere. Its that dull dark color that coats old coins. Science - Lesson 6 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6, my middle school special education classroom. In this activity were going to explore why pennies dont stay bright and shiny, and test different methods to bring the shine back! But heres the question that Im sure is brewing in your mind. All you need are, , water, dish soap, salt, and vinegar. Lesson contains This is an instruction and recording sheet for our, (as outlined) is to determine if soapy water or ketchup will, more efficiently. Im going to use this for my science project at school but im going to do it for more then 10 minutes. After quite some time, or after exposure to an acid, pennies will formcopper sulfate, carbonate, and chloride salts, which gives pennies a green color. Coke contains phosphoric acid that cleans the oxides. Required fields are marked *. Science isnt a one and done thing. They react to form copper oxide, which is darker in color. A coin collector prides himself on gathering pennies, but old tarnished pennies are an eyesore to anyone's collection. Avoid unsightly marks and scratches by learning how to clean sunglasses the right way. Gently swirl the cup so that the penny is completely covered with Ketchup. Younger kids who cant yet write well can keep the pennies in front of the cups.). Place your Control, 1 minutes penny into the Control 1 cup. The soda cleans the pennies because it contains phosphoric acid. Find out! Cleaning pennies with ketchup: easy and fun STEM for kids. Penny lab experiment conclusion. Will using lemon juice and salt have better results than vinegar? My goal is to ease the burdens of educators by offering memorable learning activities. As you are drying them, you'll notice that rubbing results in some of the dirt coming off the pennies. Can you think of other safe household acids you could test? ', ' link: For cleaning up, I used a variety of materials such as lemon, vinegar and salt, water, water with soap. Mix until the salt is dissolved (it helps if the vinegar is a little warm). This blue-green is called malachite and copper can turn into malachite over many years of exposure to chlorine and oxygen. Rank your solutions from which cleaned the penny the best, to which cleaned it the worst. How to Wash Rothy's Shoes & Flats & Keep Them Odor Free. The child should be prepared to discuss why they think some solutions were more effective than others. I'm giving you a shout out on the post. we do during the week of Presidents' Day or when we are talking about coins in Math. And what is vinegar? Phosphoric acid breaks down the copper oxygen compound and causes a new layer of the copper to be exposed. What do you notice about each penny? And hydrochloric acid is so much more acidic than vinegar alone. Science - Lesson 3 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 Lesson Cover: 1 colour page 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Have additional paper towels available to wipe off any remaining solution from the pennies. In each case, make sure the penny is completely covered by the contents of the cup. Repeat steps 2-8 with the pennies in your 5 minutes column. 'Dry Ice Bubble, - Lesson 3 of 50 - Grades 4,5,6 'Elephant's Toothpaste, ' link: 1. It is a step-by-step, that the students can perform on their own. Thanks for sharing! 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. Put a dollop of ketchup on a plate. Begin by pouring the vinegar into the bowl. So there you go, thats how it cleaned the coins too. Do you notice any changes in the contents of the cups is anything bubbling, or changing color? And also, dont forget to Subscribe to our channel for more fun kids activities. Scrub each penny for 10 seconds, then rinse it again with water and place it back into its cup. Please supervise your children during all activities. The salt and acetic acid in vinegar do the trick. . 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. Over time, pennies form a layer of copper oxide on the surface of the penny, which actually protects it from further corruption. Salt! It also helps them practice graphing, determining independent and dependent variables, and analyzing experimental results. One option is to incorporate the use of pH paper (which measures how basic or acidic something is when the paper is dipped into a substance) to help the child further understand why some of the solutions may work better than others. Thanks a lot Meriley. Now closely look at each coin. This is why bright shiny pennies dull with age. . Hi, my name is Elena Jones, and my full-time job is a teacher. We're going to try this out today! To begin with, you'll want to find a handful of dirty pennies. Let the pennies sit in the soda overnight. 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. This product is designed to teach people how to clean old, tarnished pennies using simple household items such as vinegar and salt. Citric acid works similarly to the other acids. The salt helps speed up the reaction. Water from the tap is fine. Dont be afraid to use all your senses. This will help them develop into highly skilled individuals and prepare them for more difficult situations they are sure to encounter later on in life. 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? Teacher Notes: Student Write-Up Sample: 1 colour page Well, its time to look at what is in our catsup! Your Materials For This Science Experiment & Steps Combined. 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. So, the results of your kids coin cleaning experiment should be that the ketchup and the vinegar and salt mixture were the best coin cleaners. I know I was. Place a square of clean, white paper towel in front of each cup. Yes, thats right. And because this mixture is way up high in the acidic scale, it cleaned the coin so much better and quicker than just vinegar. Did you do the 2nd stage of this cleaning coins experiment? And don't worry, I give the science behind it all! Chemical reactions are responsible for the change in a pennys appearance over time. In time, however, they get darker, brownish and dull. Encourage this and get them to write down their supposed answers. The liquids didnt clean the coins in 10 minutes so I think it needed to be for longer! Luckily, there are a number of ways to clean pennies and make them look bright and shiny again, using chemistry! Well keep that in mind. It turns out that when you mix vinegar and salt, a chemical reaction takes place and form what is called hydrochloric acid. Put 1 tablespoon of Vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt into each Vinegar cup. For any other use, please contact Science Buddies. While the coins are air drying in the second stage, you can talk your kids through their findings of the first stage together! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Remove pennies and place them on a paper towel to dry. I have an easy science experiment for you today. 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. Wear safety goggles to avoid splash danger. It was originally a dark brown color because it was made out of copper and over many years, it has slowly turned blue-green because the copper has transformed into malachite! A variety of products can be used to keep your pennies looking shiny and new. Create a solution of vinegar and salt using one teaspoon of salt and 1/4 of a cup of vinegar. The acid in ketchup is acetic acid, commonly known as vinegar. 2 teaspoons salt. 2. It can be done relatively quickly and with multiple ages. 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). Well, after you wash the ketchup off, that is. Copper oxide is brownish or sometimes black in color (depending on other things in the pennys environment). Deidre is an avid writer with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature. This is a fun and easy STEM activity that introduces the idea of oxidation and basic chemical reactions. When printing this document, you may NOT modify it in any way. Now check out your pennies. Simple science experiment that works great with any age students! Keep trying, keep asking why, and keep learning. Thank you for sharing! Rinse and dry the penny. 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. You should have observed that each cleaning method made the pennies cleaner, but some methods may have been more successful than others. Observe paper clips next day. Were there any cleaning methods where the time didnt matter, so the 1 minute and 5 minute pennies are equally clean? But if you really want to dig in you can guide your children through the scientific method while doing this. You have students write a hypothesis for what they think will happen in each solution and then let them soak. Plus, there is another great reason to try this science experiment out youll be spending some quality time with your kids. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Gather up a few dirty pennies. Remember that at the very start, I said you should use only copper coins? #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. That is why old coins look, well, old and new coins are bright and shiny. It also benefits your kid in a lot of ways too. 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 Statue of Liberty was originally built in 1875, it was not the same blue-green color it is today. Once the budding scientist has a pile of pennies, he or she should choose and collect their selection of cleaning solutions. Test whether these cleaning solutions work on other types of coins. The pennies will be cleaner and brighter than before. I'm so happy you're here!! But somewhere along the way, those pennies lose their luster. I'm a mom of three and STEM enthusiast. 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. Look how much cleaner it is. Put 1 tablespoon of Lemon Juice and 1 teaspoon of salt into each Lemon cup. Leave the paper clip in the solution overnight. Easy for planning and implementing, and the students love it. Make a paste from your baking soda and water. They are going to love it! What do they look like? The 25 Best Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers (Teacher Approved! Kids will get all the supplies they need to complete the activities in addition to a cool lab book .Subscribe here. Wipe the excess ketchup off the pennies, then rinse them off. What is the optimal time to leave the pennies in the cleaning solution? Record this number on your data table under trial 1. How to Create an Escape Room for Teaching, 50 Homeschool Science Experiments (that cost next to nothing) | Free Homeschool Deals . Hot SauceHot sauce, like Tabasco or taco sauce, also will remove the oxides off pennies. It is a great sensory STEM activity for preschoolers and older children. The kids had a lot of fun and the sorting sheet helped keep the organized and on track. Younger kids might need a bit of help. The chemical reaction that dissolves the copper oxide on your pennies is an ongoing process. Kids will love Groovy Lab in a Box because it contains everything they need to do experiments focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Place the pennies in the bowl, and allow them to sit for several minutes. Student Write-Up Template and Question Sheet: 5 colour pages 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. Begin the experiment by placing a few pennies on a small plate. Do you notice any changes in the appearance of the pennies? Wait about 5 minutes, then remove the pennies from the solution. 'Fire Water Balloon, ' link: So 1st cup will have catsup, 2nd will have coke, and so on. This website is helpful to me but,add more steps and I think it can be more helpful. So, the liquids that have worked best in your experiment are the ones that are more acidic. 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. How does time affect the cleanliness of the pennies? Try other materials containing small amounts of acid to see which produces the best results. The unlikely condiment you need to be sure to include? After that you won't see anything happen. But what about the ketchup? Here are the scientific method steps and some sample questions to help you work through it. 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. ), 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). Step 3: Dump all the pennies into the liquid. 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. 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). Record your results; photographs are helpful. About half way filled is fine. Be sure to include one water cup as a control and one ketchup cup. So what just happened here? This way, you wont mix up the coins when it comes to comparing them. 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).