Very Awesome Science Project That My Brother Did!

bet you know what's next



EDIT: also weight and size please

edit #2: when I typed please, it automatically substituted ASE for the letters a s e.

edit #3: ok, now the please is correct

Hey dude, what did he use to erode the zinc?
Which chemicals?

try to spend it now!

Adam E said:


Former chemistry teacher here. HCl was used for this experiment since Zn reacts so well with it. However, HCl (muriatic acid - hydrochloric acid - different names - same thing) is not illegal. In fact it is sold by pool supply places/hardware stores by the gallon.

And Adam, I know when I was your age that this kind of thing fascinated me. However, unless you are properly trained/instructed how to use this acid, it can be very, very dangerous by causing severe burns. Even the vapors can harm/burn your lungs when breathing them. So please, if you get an inkling to experiment, ask you teacher to do it with you in a controlled environment. We all would hate to hear of your having been hurt while trying to have a little fun and experimentation.

The teacher also could have used HNO3 (Nitric acid) to take off the copper coating and leave the Zn center. You can also remove the clad layers from dimes and quarters this way.

Very cool...I see he cut the edges so the HCl would react with the zinc. He must have been watching it closely because eventually the copper would convert to copper chlorides.

Also, like Earl said, HCl is not illegal, but it is dangerous. Especially the concentrated HCl I work with in the lab routinely. I really hate it because the fumes must be dealt with carefully. One of the more nasty solutions I make sometimes is called methanolic hydrochloric acid, extremely nasty. It's simply a mixture of methanol and HCl. When the methanol evaporates it leaves behind HCl so you really have to watch it on the skin. LOL

Please be advised that while an interesting reaction, the action of nitric acid on copper generates a noxious brown gas of nitrogen dioxide and must be done in a well-ventilated area. It's a classic chemistry demonstration. HCl or muriatic acid is much safer to use, but the comments above should be well-heeded. No matter what the acid, it can cause burns if improperly handled. I would suggest using household vinegar if you want to try this at home. You'll just have to wait a lot longer. The HCl reacts faster and thus leaves behind a nice looking copper shell.

It's the phosphoric acid in the coca cola that does the trick. I forgot about that.