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Introduction
Money is an essential part of everyday life, but people dont always think about what
it is made of. Coins are made from a wide range of metals, from gold to silver to copper.
Because they are made using metal, they tend to tarnish over time. Tarnish is a thin
layer of corrosion which occurs when the outermost layer of a metal undergoes a
chemical reaction called oxidation.
This experiment was conducted to determine which common household item
most effectively removed tarnish from copper pennies. There are trillions of pennies in
circulation, but they all have differing amounts of tarnish (Wesley). Therefore, in order to
obtain valid data, the pennies needed to start off under controlled circumstances. Rolls
of brand new pennies were bought and set out to tarnish. However, oxidation is a fairly
slow process. So, in order to tarnish the pennies equally and quickly, they were
submerged into bleach. This manipulated and sped up the natural process of oxidation,
which created a simulated patina. Patina is the visible discoloration of copper, generally
a shade of green color.
Once the pennies were tarnished, salt and vinegar solution and Coca-Cola were
used to clean the pennies. The acetic acid (CH COOH) and citric acid (C H O ) content
3
of each respective solution reacted with the copper oxide (CuO) tarnish to create salt
and water, which then dissolved off of the pennies (Mooney).
This research delved into the idea of manipulating chemical reactions and how
different substances can affect those reactions. The bleach was imposed into the
natural process of oxidation and quickened it. This created copper oxide tarnish on the
Review of Literature
When this process occurs, the copper on the pennies wears, grows tarnish, and
discolors. During the different stages of oxidation, the coloration of the penny will
change, as seen in Figure 1 below
Figure 2
Salt and Vinegar Cleaning a Penny
Figure 2 shows a copper penny being dipped into a salt and vinegar solution.
The heavy tarnish is slowly being removed off of the face of the coin.
One of the most commonly used chemical to clean copper, and the first treatment
was a salt and vinegar solution containing 45 mL of vinegar and 8 g of salt. This solution
can be made easily in the home and inherits its cleaning ability from acetic acid, found
in vinegar. The acid itself is very weak, but is efficient in cleaning the stains, tarnish and
oxidized residue on copper surfaces. For this chemical to be used as a copper cleaner,
it has to be mixed with salt. Salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), combines with acetic acid
The hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid, and when in combination with sodium
acetate, the surface of the penny is rapidly cleaned. The cleaning process leaves a pure
metal surface (Salt And Vinegar On Copper).
The salt and vinegar solution is a form of acetic acid, CH 3COOH , which reacts with the
copper oxide tarnish to form copper acetate, Cu(CH 3COO)2, and water,H2O. The copper
acetate is soluble and dissolves, leaving the clean copper surface.
The second acidic solution used was Coca-Cola, which contains citric acid
(C6H8O7). Citric acid is an organic acid that is used to clean copper. It also is not a
strong acid, but it can remove oxidized copper elements.
Solid copper (II) oxide reacts with aqueous citric acid to produce aqueous copper (II)
citrate (Cu3( C6H5O7)2) and water (H2O).
Problem Statement
Problem:
The purpose of this experiment was to find which acidic household product removed the
tarnish from pennies most efficiently. A natural process like oxidation and how it can be
manipulated, as well as the removal of tarnish that it causes, was tested. This research
revealed which household product or acid had the ability to remove tarnish from a
copper surface like pennies in a better way.
Hypothesis:
The salt and vinegar solution will have a significantly higher effect on the removal
of tarnish from the pennies.
Data Measured:
Experimental Design
Materials:
Salt (24 g)
Vinegar (135 mL)
Coca-Cola (150 mL)
Faucet water (150 mL)
10 mL beaker
8 g of salt
Containers
Scupula
250 Pennies
(4) 100 mL Beaker
Bleach (150 mL)
Paper Towel
(1) 10 mL Beaker
(4) Large Plastic
(6) Small Plastic Containers
Scale
Set-up:
This experiment uses the large plastic containers to run trials. There is a larger and a
smaller side to these containers. Both sides are used to tarnish the pennies but only the
smaller side is used when running trials.
1.
Place 10 copper pennies (heads up) in the smaller area of the container, and 20
copper pennies into the larger area of the container.
2.
Measure 50 mL of bleach and pour it into the smaller area of the container.
3.
4.
Place the pennies into the fume hood and leave it for 30 minutes.
5.
After 30 minutes has passed, remove the 30 pennies from the container with the
scupula and set them on a paper towel. Dispose of the leftover bleach by
carefully pouring it down the drain.
6.
7.
Place the pennies back in the container and re-bleach for another 30 minutes.
8.
Carefully remove the pennies with the scupula and place them onto a piece of
paper towel.
9.
Leave the pennies sitting for another 24 hours to dry and oxidize.
10.
Procedure:
1.
Carefully place 10 pennies into the small area of the container with tails side up.
2.
Measure out the acids for each trial per instruction below (See Appendix A).
3.
Fill the small area of the container with 50 mL solution, covering the pennies.
4.
5.
Remove the pennies from the container with the scupula and dispose of the
solution.
6.
Place paper towel in the container and put the pennies back in to sit.
7.
8.
Compare each penny to the scale stated in Appendix C. Find the difference in
tarnish level.
Diagram:
Figure 3. Materials
Figure 4 displays the materials used for the experiment conducted.
Table 1 shows the quantified amount of tarnish removal when the pennies were
submerged in Coke.
Table 2
Coca-Cola Trial Observations
Observations
Pennies
1 to 10
The Coke seemed to not do much at first, aside from bubbling around
the pennies. After the 15 minutes within the coke, the pennies still had
tarnish but the parts without it were restored to an almost brand new
color.
Pennies
11 to 20
As with the salt & vinegar, the repeat of the coke trial yielded the same
results as the first. The coke bubbled around the pennies and small
pieces of tarnish began to float until the pennies were eventually about
half clean.
Pennies
21 to 30
The third and final trial of Coke once again consistently yielded the same
results. Slower process, yet good results with clean copper color.
Table 2 is the written observations that were recorded with each Coke trial. Pennies
were separated in groups of 10 in order to perform nine trials, with three per solution.
Table 3
Table 3 shows the quantified amount of tarnish removal when the pennies were
submerged in water. This acted as the control of the experiment to ensure that the
testing stayed consistent.
Table 4
Observations
Pennies 1 to
10
The water did not affect the level of tarnish removal. No visible
reaction occurred and the pennies stayed exactly the same.
Pennies 11
to 20
Pennies 21
to 30
Table 4 is the written observations that were recorded with each water trial.
Table 5
Table 5 shows the quantified amount of tarnish removal when the pennies were
submerged in salt and vinegar.
Table 6
Salt & Vinegar Trial Observations
Observations
Pennies 1
to 10
Pennies 11
to 20
The same quick result as trial 1. A dull copper color was exposed and the
tarnish seemed to disappear but once the trial was complete, the
pennies were a very dark color.
Pennies
21 to 30
The final salt & vinegar trial produced the same results as the previous
two. A quick reaction resulting in tarnish free, but very dull pennies.
Table 6 is the written observations that were recorded with each salt & vinegar
trial.
Figure 5
Figure 8. Before and After a Coke Trial
Figure 8 features a sample trial of tarnished pennies before and after being
exposed to Coke solution. Before treatment, the copper pennies had a heavy green
tarnish on them. However, after the exposure to the solution, they were half-tarnish, with
a shiny copper color on the clean areas.
Figure 11. Distribution of Difference in Tarnish Levels (Salt and Vinegar Solution)
Figure 11 shows the effect on levels of tarnish when the pennies were
submerged in salt and vinegar. This graph appears slightly skewed to the left with no
outliers.
Figure 12. Tarnish Removal for Salt and Vinegar Solution (Box-and-Whisker Plot)
Figure 12 shows the box-and-whisker plot for the removal of tarnish on copper
pennies when treated in salt and vinegar. Parallel to the coke solution, this graph has a
median at one, but also seems to be evenly distributed. This is because of the integer
valued data.
Figure 13. Comparison of Tarnish Removal for Salt and Vinegar and Coca Cola
Figure 13 shows the box-and-whisker plot for the comparison of the removal of
tarnish on copper pennies when treated by salt and vinegar and Coca-Cola. Although
the tarnish levels were different after treatment, the difference between them appears to
be constant. Both box plots appear to be evenly distributed, yet skewed left. This is
because of the integer value data collected. When observing these box plots, it can be
inferred that neither the Coca-Cola, nor the salt and vinegar had any significant effect
over the other. Both solutions had the overall same effect on the pennies tarnish
removal.
Table 7
Tarnish of Copper Data
Table 7 displays the necessary data to calculate the results of the Two-Sample tTest for this experiment. The mean value for each population is represented by (x bar),
the standard deviation for each population is represented by s, and the number of
samples in each population is represented by n.
First, before starting the Two-Sample t-Test, assumptions need to be met in order
to ensure accuracy. As stated, the sample size needs to be at least 30, which was met
for each solution. Also, the test needs to consist of an independent simple random
sample, with unknown sample standard deviation. Both of these assumptions were also
met given that 90 pennies were sampled from the total, unknown population.
The null hypothesis states that the mean values for the removal of tarnish from
salt & vinegar solution and Coca-Cola are equal. Whereas the alternative hypothesis
states that the mean value for the salt & vinegar solution is larger than that of CocaCola. What this tests is whether or not the value of salt & vinegar is significantly larger
than that of Coke. Thus testing whether or not the method of cleaning has a significant
effect. The reasoning behind the alternative hypothesis stating that salt & vinegar is
larger, relates back the original hypothesis of the experiment. It was predicted that salt &
vinegar would have a larger effect on the cleanliness of the pennies.
Conclusion
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http://www.copper.org/applications/architecture/finishes.html