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 Replies: 31 / Views: 5,251 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
1. Don't know if you want or allowed to utilize a chemical experiment but a simple one would be to show how to change a Copper Cent into a Green crystaline substance. You would need to steal some battery acid from your dad's or someone's car battery, A glass tumbler with lid if possible, a not to expensive pre 1982 Cent. Don't take out to much acid or someone will really be mad. Place the Cent in the tumbler with the Battery Acid and allow to sit for several days.
The Acid in the Battery is a form of Sulfuric Acid and the Cent is Copper. Eventually the Copper replaces the Sulfur and you should end up with some Green Solution of Copper Sulfate. If you allowed that green Solution to evaporate, you may end up with some really nice looking Green Crystals of Copper Sulfate.
Of course the same thing would happen if you just used a piece of Copper piping but this was supposed to be for coins.
2. As to Chemical reactions you may want to try almost any old, dirty coin in Vinegar or Lemon Juice or Lime Juice or Tomato Juice or Coke or Pepsi. You would need several similar types of coins to show the cleaning power of some juices.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
silver plating cents is always cool
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19961 Posts |
You're only in 8th grade?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4846 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Back to my pencil/stick balance scale here are some more coins to show how the weights are different. 1. If you had a Indian Head cent it should weigh 4.67 grams from 1859 to 1864. Then it got changed to 3.11 grams in 1865. If you had one of each you could show how that differs by the balance system. 2. A really odd comparison is in Dimes. Roosevelt dimes from 1946 to 1964 weighed only 2.27 grams. Then from 1965 to present they wieghed in at 2.5 grams. If again you had one of each the balance beam system would show this difference in weights. 3. You may want to point out that although our Dime is the smallest presently used coin and is the lightest and yet worth 10 times that of a Cent, 2 times the value of a Nickel. 4. Again you could do this with Quarters since a 1932 to 1964 one weighed in at 6.25 grams and from 1965 to present they are 5.67 grams. 5. And one more thing for you to consider is to find out how to convert a gram into ounces, pounds or anything else. What part of a pound does a penny weigh? 6. And as to coins. How big are they? In inches? In Milimeters. In Centimeters? 7. Have you considered explaining the different materials our coins have been made of and what the differences are. Try showing how only one coin in recent times is magnetic and why. Hint, the 1943 Cent. 8. If you have a 1943 Lincoln Cent try this for fun or for you class. Find a small, strong magnet. With rubber cement glue it to the palm of your hand. (Rubber cement comes off easily). Now lay the 1943 Lincoln Cent on a table and pass your open hand over the coin and it will jump to the magnet appearing as if it vanished. If it clanks to loud, place a piece of napkin on the magnet. |
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Valued Member
India
265 Posts |
try cleaning coins with vinegar.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
598 Posts |
I think the specific gravity test is an excellent idea... if you had Canadian 1967 quarters and dimes. These could either be .800 or .500 fine silver, and this test is pretty much the best way to tell them apart. In 1968 Canadian quarters and dimes went from .500 fine silver to pure nickel. The silver coins were always alloyed with copper, so a magnet can be used to easily sort out the silver in 1968s. Anyway, useful to a Canadian, eh.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1534 Posts |
Interesting thread, those are some good suggestions. I'm glad I didn't have to do a science fair project last year when I was in 7th grade, I was never good at those. Good luck!  |
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Moderator
 United States
188770 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4846 Posts |
for an update, I decided to go with the specific gravity. I tested coins from 1 cent(all varieties including a worn steel, MS steel, large cent FE Indian[both kinds] copper and zinc coins) to 2 cent. I haven't gotten the specific gravity yet, but I got all of the weights down.
thank you all for your help!
-Adam
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1256 Posts |
Sorry I missed this thread :( Good Luck!
"not smart enough" I'm doubting that!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1256 Posts |
Cooper kills viruses (sic). Copper has potent virucidal properties, and copper's neutralization of infectious bronchitis virus, poliovirus, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and other enveloped or nonenveloped single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA viruses has been reported 1.
How many of you copper hoarders have been sick lately :)
1. Borkow, G., and J. Gabbay. 2005. Copper as a biocidal tool. Curr. Med. Chem. 12:2163-2175.
Edited by timsumrall
12/09/2010 08:50 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19961 Posts |
Viruses are non-living, they cannot be killed. However, copper does have an anti-microbial effect. I think that's what you meant to say.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1256 Posts |
Though debated by greater minds than mine, you are correct in that I should have used "inactivate".
Bet we are straining the coin topic here but hey! it's my 250th post so why not live dangerously :)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Cooper kills viruses. How many of you copper hoarders have been sick lately :)
Not sure about that statement. Of course I don't know anyone named Cooper so not really sure if they would kill anything.  |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 5,251 |
First Page
Posted 10/03/2010 1:21 pm
