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Ahmed - Clark - Koki 1

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
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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

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surface of the pennies. After, the acidic solutions were imposed onto that tarnish and
were found to remove the patina, basically reversing the oxidation process.
The findings of this experiment can be useful for both scientists and everyday people.
There are many household items that are made from metals. These household items
can begin to develop tarnish over a long period of time. As an example, jewelry often
becomes tarnished over long periods of time. Copper pipes and cookware can also
develop tarnish. Knowing how to remove this tarnish using cheap and effective
household solutions can help save money and diminish the need to replace these items.
This experiment set out to tackle intriguing scientific concepts while using everyday
factors. Chemistry is everywhere, and this experiment showed that taking simple
pennies along with common household items, can open the door to research that is still
very uncharted. Whether it be to clean an old necklace, or to study the idea of
manipulating chemical processes, this research looked to inspire.

Review of Literature

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The goal of this research project was to determine which acidic household product,
salt and vinegar solution or Coca-Cola, cleans the tarnish off of copper the most
effectively. Acetic acid, found in vinegar when in combination with sodium chloride
(NaCl), is considered the best way to remove tarnish from copper (Rosenhein).
However, citric acid, found in Coca-Cola, is also known for its ability to clean tarnish.
The aim was to find out which of the two is most efficient. Pennies were manually
tarnished equally, using bleach. The oxidized pennies were compared to the custom
scale (See in Appendix C) to quantify the tarnish level. Following, they were submerged
in water as a control, salt and vinegar, and Coca-Cola for a constant 20 minute time.
Finally, the quantified tarnish levels of the clean pennies were determined with the scale
and thus, the effect of the product.
When copper, or pennies in this case, are exposed to oxygen in the air, oxidation
occurs. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a
molecule, atom, or ion. This process produces copper oxide (CuO) which results in
surface level patina and tarnish. The oxidation of pennies can be manipulated using
certain chemicals that react with the copper. Over time, the copper will become a
greenish color due to the formation of copper sulfate (CuSO ), carbonate (CO2
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3) and chloride salts (NaCl) (Why Does Copper Oxidize?).

Naturally, copper oxidizes when exposed to air. This reaction is represented


below.

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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 1. Copper Weathering Chart

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Figure 1 displays the tints and shades of copper as it corrodes over time.
Periodically, a golden-brown copper penny will turn into a nasty green color after
deteriorating (Copper Development Association Inc).
This experiment used bleach in order to simulate the corrosion of the pennies. The
copper reacted with the chlorine in the bleach to form copper oxide (CuO) tarnish,
quickening the oxidation process (Totter). Bleach is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and
contains caustic soda (NaOH) in the solution to keep the bleach alkaline. The oxidizing
strength comes as a result of the reduction of oxygen from +6 to -2. The reaction
between copper and bleach releases a significant amount of oxygen gas as the NaOCl
is transformed to NaCl and O . The required electrons for this reaction are produced
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when the copper is oxidized and forms copper ions (Mooney).


Following the tarnishing of the pennies, they were then submerged in each acidic
solution for a period of 20 minutes as seen in Figure 2 below.

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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

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from the vinegar to produce sodium acetate (C 2H3NaO2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl).
Solid sodium chloride reacts with aqueous acetic acid to produce aqueous sodium
acetate and aqueous hydrochloric acid:

NaCl(s) + C2H4O2(aq) C2H3NaO2(aq) + HCl(aq)

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).

CuO + CH3COOH >>>> Cu(CH3COO)2 + H2O

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).

3CuO(s) + 2C6H8O7(aq) ---> Cu3( C6H5O7)2(aq) + 3H2O(l)

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Eventually, the acid will begin to corrode the copper itself if the coin is submerged
for a long period of time (Cascio). As the penny is placed in the citric acid solution, the
citric acid cleans the copper in two ways. First, the citric acid is in a liquid form, allowing
the tarnish on the penny to loosen from the metal. Second, and most importantly, the
acid in the solution reacts with the copper oxide layer that has created the patina. The
citric acid removes the copper oxide from the penny and rinses away the loosened dirt
and grime. The final result of this reaction is a clean and shiny copper penny
(Sherwood).
Many experiments in the past have been conducted that are relevant to this
experiment. An experiment has been done where pennies were cleaned with vinegar.
This experiment is very similar to the experiment that was conducted. An oxidation and
reduction reaction experiment has been done to illustrate oxidation and reduction. An
alkaline dextrose solution was used to reduce methylene blue to produce a colorless
solution. Also, an experiment was run to produce invisible ink with lemon juice. Since
lemon juice is an organic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated, diluting
the lemon juice would make it very hard to notice. By mixing water and lemon juice with
a cotton bud and writing a message with it, the message would only appear when it is
heated.
Although this research was based off of previous experiments, there were
significant differences between them. Instead of using citric acid from lemon juice, as in
Cascios experiment, this experiment Coca-Cola to examine the true effects of the acid
alone. Also, instead of using potassium sulfide (K S) to tarnish the pennies, like in Hans
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analysis, this experiment used bleach to turn the copper into the dirty greenish color.
However, the change in oxidation of each penny obtained the same results.
When trials were finalized, the data that was recorded for each acidic product were
compared using a two-sample t-test. Once it was completed, the strongest and most
efficient acid for removing tarnish from pennies was determined. This research provided
great insight to the oxidation process and removing the effects of said process. The
ability to manipulate and observe processes using different products was so prominent
and expanded upon throughout.

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:

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The independent variables of which the pennies will be submerged in are salt
and vinegar, and Coca-Cola. The dependent variable will be how much tarnish is
removed from the salt and vinegar, or Coca-Cola. There will be a total of 9 trials, of 10
pennies each equating to 30 pennies per acid and 30 pennies for the control of water.

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.

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Measure 75 mL of bleach and pour it into the larger area of the container.

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.

Let the pennies sit overnight for 24 hours and dry.

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.

Compare each penny to the scale in Appendix C.

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.

Leave pennies in the solution for 20 minutes.

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.

Wait 10 minutes for the pennies to dry.

8.

Compare each penny to the scale stated in Appendix C. Find the difference in
tarnish level.

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9.
10.

Record the results of the trial.


Repeat steps (1-9) for (8) more trials.

Diagram:

Figure 3. Materials
Figure 4 displays the materials used for the experiment conducted.

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Data and Observations


The data collected in this experiment was collected through nine different trials of ten
pennies each. The ninety total pennies were then compared to a scale that was
established during pre-trials. This scale contained five different stages of tarnish,
featuring a 1 if the treated penny had a clear surface and a 5 if the penny showed a
heavy green patina.

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Figure 4.Tarnish Scale


Figure 4 displays the scale that was used to quantify the cleanliness of each
penny. This was then used to determine the change in tarnish level, caused by each
solution.

Data and Observations:


Table 1

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Effect of Coca-Cola on Tarnish Removal

Table 1 shows the quantified amount of tarnish removal when the pennies were
submerged in Coke.

Table 2
Coca-Cola Trial Observations

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Trial

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

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Effect of Water on Tarnish Removal

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

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Water Trial Observations
Trial

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

No tarnish was removed when submerged in water. The pennies


stayed motionless with no reaction.

Pennies 21
to 30

As with the previous trials, the pennies underwent no visible change


when put into water.

Table 4 is the written observations that were recorded with each water trial.

Table 5

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Effect of Salt and Vinegar on Tarnish Removal

Table 5 shows the quantified amount of tarnish removal when the pennies were
submerged in salt and vinegar.

Table 6
Salt & Vinegar Trial Observations

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Trial

Observations

Pennies 1

Immediate change in color and removal of tarnish. This resulted in a


dull, but copper color to be exposed. Once the trial was complete, the
pennies were a dark, almost black color.

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.

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Figure 5. Pennies Submerged in Salt and Vinegar Solution


Figure 5 shows a sample trial of ten pennies submerged in solution. This is a
visual of how each trial was run and how the pennies were submerged in each solution.

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Figure 6. Before and After a Salt and Vinegar Trial


Figure 6 features a sample trial of tarnished pennies before and after being
exposed to salt and vinegar solution. Before treatment, the copper pennies had a heavy
green patina on them. However, after the exposure to the solution, they were tarnishfree with a dull brown-ish color.

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Figure 7. Before and After a Water Trial


Figure 7 features a sample trial of tarnished pennies before and after being
exposed to water. Before treatment, the copper pennies had a heavy green tarnish on
them. Similarly, after the exposure to the solution, they still had the dirty grime on them.

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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.

Data Analysis and Interpretation


In this experiment, pennies were manually tarnished using bleach and cleaned
using salt and vinegar, Coca Cola, and water. The tarnish level was quantified using the
scale in Appendix C. A number was given to each penny per the scale before and after
each trial and the difference was found. To ensure that this data was valid enough to run

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through statistical tests, precautions were taken. A control of water was used to ensure
that the experiment was accurate, and run the same each time. In doing this, all of the
pennies placed in water yielded no difference. This shows that the procedure was not
flawed. Each product was tested with a set of 30 pennies each which meets the
assumption of the Central Limit Theorem. The sample size must be at least 30 to
ensure normal data. The 90 total pennies were split up into groups of 10 in order to
have nine trials, three per product. These 9 trials were randomized to ensure equal
conditions and accurate results for every penny.
Once data was collected, it needed to be analyzed within a statistical test. The test
best suited for this experiment was found to be a Two-Sample t-Test. This is because, in
a Two-Sample t-Test, the means of two sets of data are compared. This test fits this
data, as the mean differences for each of the products were to be compared. A TwoSample t-Test would identify whether or not there was a significant difference in the
product's effectiveness. Aside from the minimal population of 30, assumptions had to be
met to ensure the accuracy of a Two-Sample t-Test. The standard deviations of each
sample needed to be equal, both were found to be 0.78, and a normal probability plot
was made in order to ensure normality.

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Figure 9. Distribution of Difference Between Tarnish Levels (Coca-Cola Exposure.


Figure 9 shows the effect on levels of tarnish when the pennies were submerged
in Coca-Cola. This graph appears slightly skewed to the left with no outliers.

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Figure 10. Tarnish Removal for Coca-Cola (Box-and-Whisker Plot)


Figure 10 shows the box-and whisker plot for the removal of tarnish on copper
pennies when treated in Coca-Cola. The differences before and after treatment appear
to be distributed evenly. However, the median is at one which implies that the graph is
skewed to the left. That being said, due to the data being integer values between 0 and
3, this result makes sense.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

Figure 6. Null and Alternative Hypothesis

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Figure 6 is both the null and alternative hypothesis for the Two-Sample t-Test. Mu 1 is
salt and vinegar solution, and mu 2 is the Coca-Cola solution. The null hypothesis
states that the salt and vinegar average is equal to that of Coca-Cola. The alternative
hypothesis states that the average of salt and vinegar is greater than that of Coca-Cola.
The standard deviations were both found to be 0.78. Using this, the t-Test was
then performed. By subtracting the mean of Coca-Cola from the mean of salt & vinegar,
and two times the standard deviation divided by the sample size, and then dividing the
former by the latter, a p-value was found.

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Figure 14. Graph of the Shaded P-value and 2-Sample t-Test
Figure 14 shows the t-value and p-value found within the Two-Sample t-Test, as
well as the graphed p-value. The t-value was found to be 0.15. Also, the shaded area of
the graph is slightly less than half, which correlates to the p-value of 0.44, or 44 percent.
The p-value was found to be 0.44 which was insignificant at both the 1% and 5%
alpha levels. Therefore, the experiment failed to reject the null hypothesis. There was no
evidence that the salt & vinegar was significantly more effective than Coca-Cola. The pvalue of 0.44 states that results this extreme would occur 44% of the time by chance
alone if the null hypothesis is true.

Conclusion

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The purpose of this experiment was to determine which acidic, household
product removed the tarnish from copper 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. The study of this research revealed which solution had the ability to
remove tarnish from a copper surface, such as pennies, most effectively. The
hypothesis of the experiment, which stated that salt and vinegar solution would have a
significantly higher effect on the removal of tarnish than that of Coca-Cola, was rejected.
In the Two-Sample t-Test, neither solution had a significantly higher effect than the
other, but according to the raw data, the overall tarnish removal was higher under the
salt and vinegar solution.
Using the custom scale in Appendix C, the tarnish on the pennies was quatified.
A 1 on the scale would be the equivalent to a perfect penny, and a 5 would equate to a
heavily tarnished penny. The average tarnish level difference, when the pennies were
submerged in salt and vinegar, was found to be 1.20. For the Coca-Cola, the average
tarnish level difference was found to be 1.17, which was 0.03 lower than the salt and
vinegar. The data collected does show that the salt and vinegar solution produced a
higher difference in tarnish, but not a significant amount. In running the data through a
Two-Sample t-Test, with an alternative hypothesis stating that salt and vinegar is greater
than Coca-Cola, a p-value of 0.44 was found. This is 44%, which is insignificant at both
the 1% and 5% alpha levels. Meaning, the test failed to reject the null hypothesis, and
the salt and vinegar solution was determined to not have a significant effect in tarnish
removal over Coca-Cola.

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Scientifically, the outcomes during this experiment were the expected results.
Pennies have a pure copper, Cu, plating. This metal is susceptible to the oxidation
process. In this, oxygen, O, reacts with the metal, deteriorating it and producing a dirty,
green patina. In the preparation for this experiment, the pennies were submerged in
bleach so that exposure was equal and the tarnish levels were as close to equal for
each penny as possible. The bleach quickens the rate of oxidation while producing an
artificial and faster tarnish level, or copper oxide, CuO.
Once the pennies attained the tarnish needed to run trials, they were submerged
in the solutions of water, Coca-Cola, as well as salt and vinegar. Water is neither acidic
nor basic, therefore had no effect on the tarnish level. This control helped assure that
the procedure was consistent, as each time a water trial was run, the tarnish showed no
change. Both household solutions tested were acidic and reacted with the copper oxide
base, to produce salt and water. The salt and vinegar solution is a form of acetic acid,
CH3COOH, which reacts with the copper oxide tarnish creating oxidation and forming
copper acetate, Cu(CH3COO)2, and water, H2O. The copper acetate is soluble and
dissolves, leaving the clean copper surface.
Continuing, Coca-Cola contains citric acid, CHO, which uses its liquid form to
loosen the tarnish and react with only the tarnish as it is not strong enough to
deteriorate the copper itself. The reaction between the citric acid and copper oxide
produces copper citrate and water. From there it dissolves with the surface tarnish,
leaving a clean copper surface.
In this experiment, the salt and vinegar solution was hypothesized to be
significantly more effective on the removal of tarnish. Though acetic acid has a less

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acidic pH, the hypothesis was chosen since the concentration of the acid itself is higher
in the salt and vinegar solution than that of citric acid within Coca-Cola. The TwoSample t-Test did not show that the salt and vinegar solution was significantly more
effective on the removal of tarnish. However, through raw data and observations, other
conclusions can be inferred. The average difference between the pennies tarnish,
before and after treatment, was higher when submerged in salt and vinegar solution.
Also, in observing the pennies themselves, it was noticed that the salt and vinegar
yielded a higher amount of darkened pennies, but with less green patina. Therefore,
more surface tarnish was removed under the salt and vinegar solution, supporting the
statement that it works more effectively. For example, per the scale used, an extremely
shiny penny, with more green patina, would receive the same score as a penny with
almost no patina, but an extensively darkened color. Through this, a trend was observed
that the former penny would result from being submerged in Coca-Cola, and the latter
as a result of the salt and vinegar solution. This is where subjectivity and a more
extensive scale could greatly improve the findings of the experiment.
Following, other inconsistencies were encountered with this research. As stated,
quantifying the tarnish level of the pennies was a tough task. The purpose of the bleach
was to keep a consistent level of tarnish throughout each penny. Given that the bleach
itself did not tarnish the pennies, but simply sped up the natural process of oxidation,
the amount of tarnish still varied. Also, as stated previously, pennies with a higher
amount of tarnish but a shinier surface were observed along side pennies with almost
no tarnish, but a dark, dirty color as seen in figures 6, 7, and 8 of the Data and
Observations section. The variation in the scale and the tarnish observed was an

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obstacle that affected this research. A larger scale, accounting for the different types of
patina and the finite differences in tarnish level, would solve this problem.
Next, another factor that influenced the results was the type of paper towel used.
Originally, a harsh paper towel was used. However, it was observed that it could not
hold enough bleach for the pennies to soak in, resulting in insufficient oxidation after 24
hours. Once this issue was brought to attention, a more expensive and fluffy paper
towel was substituted for the bleached pennies to dry on. This new paper towel had the
ability to actually absorb the bleach, so the pennies laid on a moist towel for a complete
24 hours. As a result, the copper pennies finally contained a heavy coat of tarnish after
being submerged in bleach.
Lastly, If this experiment were to be redone, a few changes would improve the
experimental design. Most importantly, a larger and more precise scale to quantify the
tarnish levels would yield more accurate data. It was found that there was no significant
difference between the two solutions. However, a more detailed and precise scale could
better quantify small differences in the tarnish level, and in turn, potentially show that
one solution was more effective than the other.
Another possible factor in the results of the experiment was temperature. For this
experiment, the ideal condition is room temperature, between 68 and 72 degrees
Fahrenheit. According to the Kinetic Molecular Theory, when heat is added to a
substance, the molecules and atoms vibrate faster. Simultaneously, as atoms vibrate
faster, the space between atoms increases. Therefore, it can be inferred that when the
temperature of the solution is higher, it moves more quickly across the surface of the

Ahmed - Clark - Koki 39


penny and the atoms react more quickly with the copper oxide, removing more tarnish
in the allotted time.
Similar research has been done to test and see which acid removes tarnish from
pennies best. Although they may have not been exactly the same, they all proved that
salt and vinegar works better than Coca-Cola. While not found statistically significant,
the outcome of this research does support the finding of other researchers. Further,
while different visually, this experiment did produce the expected results seen in other
research. Using the previous work, this experiment found ideal conditions such as the
15 minute period in which the pennies were submerged in the solution. By comparing
the procedure and the results of this experiment and previous experimentation, it can be
noted that the findings are accurate.
With any scientific conclusion, further research can be performed. The ideas
behind this experiment go far beyond that of removing tarnish off of pennies. Firstly, to
prepare the pennies for testing against the solutions, they were submerged in bleach in
order to tarnish them. The bleach itself did not tarnish the pennies but it sped up the
natural process of oxidation. The idea behind manipulating and forcing natural
processes such as oxidation can be largely expanded upon. Valuable substances such
as gold are produced naturally, and this idea of manipulating such processes could
someday be used to quicken the formation of it. With further research, a solution could
be found that, when reacting with iron ore or another metal, forms gold. Also, the
removal of the tarnish itself provides great insight. These and other acidic solutions can
react with copper oxide and make a penny almost brand new again. These types of

Ahmed - Clark - Koki 40


reactions can also be used on other types of metals, specifically in cleaning jewelry.
More efficient ways of doing so can also be experimented on.
The idea of placing a human hand into natural processes and manipulating
different solutions is crucial to the idea of chemistry. This experiment took the natural
process of oxidation and sped it up to tarnish brand new pennies within a 24 hour
period. Then, it took the pennies and submerged them into two different household,
acidic solutions to test the tarnish removal. The solutions reacted with the copper oxide
tarnish and cleaned the pennies. The original hypothesis, stating the salt and vinegar
solution would have a significantly higher effect on the tarnish, was rejected by the TwoSample t-Test. However, the raw data did show that the salt and vinegar produced
overall higher results. This experiment focused on crucial scientific ideas and produced
valid data, while opening the door to further experimentation.

Appendix A: Making the Salt & Vinegar Solution


Procedure:
1.

Place the way boat on the scale.

2.

Zero the scale out.

3.

Pour 8 grams of salt into the way boat using a 10 mL beaker.

4.

Fill a 250 mL beaker with 45 mL of vinegar.

5.

Pour the 8 grams of salt into the beaker with 45 mL of vinegar.

Ahmed - Clark - Koki 41


6.

Use a scupula to stir the solution for 5 minutes.

Appendix B: How to Carry out a Two-Sample T-Test


A two sample t test compares the means of two samples.

Figure 1. Formula for 2 Sample T-test


Figure 1 shows the formula for a 2 sample t-test.
The xx is the mean of the sample.

Ahmed - Clark - Koki 42


The s is the standard deviation. The standard deviation for both sample populations
are 0.78
The n is the sample size. Both sample sizes were 30.

Figure 2. Formula with Raw Data Numbers


Figure 2 shows the calculated 2 sample t-test for the data from the experiment.

Figure 3. Formula for Sample Standard Deviation


Figure 3 shows the formula used to find the sample standard deviation.
The x is the individual values.
The xx is the sample mean.
The n is the sample size
(_________) means the sum of.

Ahmed - Clark - Koki 43

Appendix C: Established Tarnish Scale

Figure 1. Tarnish Scale (Brand New 2015 Pennies)

Ahmed - Clark - Koki 44


Figure 1 displays the scale that was used to quantify the cleanliness of each
penny. This was then used to determine the change in tarnish level, caused by each
solution.
This scale featuring different levels of tarnish was developed during pre-trials.
One: A brand new penny was used to represent one. If enough tarnish was removed,
the pennies would look like they were brand new.
Two: A two on the scale was a slightly tarnished penny with minimal discoloration.
Three: A three on the scale was a penny with some noticeable tarnish, and some
discoloration.
Four: A four on the scale was a penny with a lot of tarnish, close to the most tarnished
penny.
Five: To figure out which penny to use, the most tarnished penny was picked.

"Finishes - Introduction." Application Areas: Architecture. Copper Development


Association Inc, n.d. Web. 15 May 2015.
<http://www.copper.org/applications/architecture/finishes.html>.

http://www.copper.org/applications/architecture/finishes.html

Ahmed - Clark - Koki 45


https://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wsu_/activities/wsu_penny/table1newweb.j
pg

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