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In this activity, learners conduct an oxidation experiment that turns old pennies bright and shiny. Learners soak 20 dull, dirty pennies in a bowl of salt and vinegar for five minutes. They rinse half the pennies with water, then compare the rinsed pennies to the unrinsed after all pennies sit and dry for about an hour. Learners also observe what happens when they submerge a screw and nail in the liquid compared to a nail only half-way submerged.
- Under 5 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 20 dull, dirty pennies
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- A clear, shallow bowl (not metal)
- 2 clean steel nails
- A clean steel screw or bolt
- Paper towels
Subjects
-
Physical Sciences
-
Chemistry
- Chemical Bonding
- Chemical Reactions
- Acids and Bases
- Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
- Solutions
-
Chemistry
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Exploratorium; Murphy, Pat ; Klages, Ellen ; Shore, Linda ; Gorski, Jason
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Exploratorium, 1997