Gathering Your Supplies: What You’ll Need to Get Started
Ever found a grubby, tarnished penny lurking in your pocket or on the sidewalk? Those dull, brownish coins aren’t very appealing, are they? But instead of tossing them aside, imagine the fascinating world of science hidden within that seemingly simple coin. Today, we’ll transform those dull, dirty pennies into shiny, sparkling treasures through a hands-on science experiment that’s perfect for kids, and we’re providing a helpful, downloadable PDF guide to make it even easier! This isn’t just about cleaning pennies; it’s about uncovering a fundamental scientific principle and sparking curiosity.
Before diving into the experiment, let’s gather our supplies. The best part? Most of these items are readily available in your home! You won’t need complicated equipment or expensive chemicals. The simplicity of this experiment is part of its charm.
First, and obviously, you’ll need a collection of dirty pennies. The dirtier, the better! These are our subjects, the objects of our experiment. Look for pennies that are tarnished, dull, and showing signs of oxidation. The darker the appearance, the more dramatic the results will be.
Next, you’ll need several different cleaning solutions. We’ll be testing a variety of common household items to see which ones are most effective. Here are some excellent options:
- Vinegar: This is a classic choice. White vinegar is readily accessible, inexpensive, and contains acetic acid, which will play a key role in cleaning the pennies.
- Lemon Juice: Another acidic solution, lemon juice is a natural alternative to vinegar. Its acidity makes it a great contender for removing tarnish. Freshly squeezed is best, but bottled lemon juice works too.
- Dish Soap: Ordinary dish soap might seem like an unusual choice, but it can help loosen dirt and grime from the pennies.
- Baking Soda Paste: Baking soda, combined with a bit of water, creates a mild abrasive that can help scrub away the tarnish.
- Ketchup: Yes, you read that right! Ketchup contains acids from the tomatoes and vinegar, providing another cleaning possibility.
Now, you’ll need small containers or cups to hold each of the cleaning solutions. Clear cups or containers will allow you to easily observe the pennies throughout the experiment. Make sure you have enough containers for each of the cleaning solutions you are using.
You’ll also need plenty of water for rinsing the pennies. A small bowl or container to hold the water for rinsing will be useful.
Finally, you’ll want some paper towels or a clean cloth to dry the pennies after they’ve been cleaned. Avoid using anything that might leave lint or fibers on the freshly cleaned coins.
For extra safety, you might want to have measuring spoons or measuring cups on hand if you want to test different concentrations of your cleaning solutions. Gloves and safety glasses are recommended, especially for younger children or if you choose to use stronger or more potent cleaning solutions (although, as always, adult supervision is key!).
A Few Important Safety Precautions to Consider
Before you begin, it’s essential to review some basic safety precautions, particularly if young children are involved. While this experiment is generally safe, it’s always wise to be cautious:
- Adult Supervision: Always supervise children during this experiment.
- Eye Protection: If you have safety glasses, wear them. Especially when handling acidic solutions, eye protection is a good idea.
- Gloves: Wearing gloves can protect your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin or are working with acidic solutions.
- Avoid Ingestion: Do not swallow any of the cleaning solutions or the pennies. They aren’t meant for consumption.
- Ventilation: Work in a well-ventilated area.
- Rinsing Thoroughly: Always rinse the pennies thoroughly with water after using a cleaning solution. This helps remove any residue.
- Proper Disposal: Dispose of the used cleaning solutions responsibly.
Putting the Experiment into Action: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that we’ve gathered our supplies and established some safety guidelines, let’s get started with the fun part: cleaning the dirty pennies! Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to follow:
First, arrange your containers. Place each of your chosen cleaning solutions into a separate container. For example, you’ll have one container with vinegar, one with lemon juice, one with dish soap, one with your baking soda paste, and one with your ketchup. Be sure to label them clearly, so you know which is which!
Next, prepare your cleaning solutions, if necessary. If using vinegar or lemon juice, they are ready to go. For the baking soda paste, mix a small amount of baking soda with just enough water to form a thick paste. For ketchup, you can simply pour it directly into a container.
Carefully place a few dirty pennies into each of the cleaning solutions. Make sure the pennies are completely submerged. You’ll want to make sure each cleaning solution has the same number of pennies.
Allow the pennies to soak in the solutions for a set amount of time. A good starting point is five to ten minutes. However, you can experiment with different soaking times to see how it affects the results.
Throughout the soaking process, observe the pennies. Are you starting to see any changes? Note any color changes, bubbling, or other reactions you might observe. (This is where a scientific notebook or the printable PDF comes in handy for recording observations!)
For added effectiveness, you can gently swirl or agitate the pennies in the solutions occasionally. This helps to loosen any dirt or tarnish. Be careful not to spill any of the solutions.
Once the soaking time is up, carefully remove the pennies from each cleaning solution. Use a spoon or tweezers to avoid direct contact with the solutions.
Rinse each penny thoroughly with water. This is crucial to remove any remaining cleaning solution and stop the chemical reactions.
Finally, dry the pennies with a paper towel or a clean cloth. Gently rub the pennies to remove any remaining water and reveal their shiny surfaces.
Unveiling the Mystery: Explaining the Science Behind the Cleanliness
So, what’s the science at work here? Why do these household solutions clean the pennies? The answer lies in a fascinating process called oxidation and how the cleaning agents interact with it.
Pennies are primarily made of copper, and copper reacts with oxygen in the air to form copper oxide. This copper oxide is what causes the pennies to tarnish, turning them from their original shiny copper color to a dull brown or black. This tarnishing is just like rust forming on iron, but on a slower pace.
The cleaning solutions work by removing this copper oxide layer. Most of the solutions we use contain acids. Acids have the unique ability to react with copper oxide, dissolving it and revealing the shiny copper underneath. This is a chemical reaction, where the acid combines with the copper oxide and breaks it down.
Vinegar and lemon juice are excellent examples of acids at work. The acetic acid in vinegar and the citric acid in lemon juice are both strong enough to dissolve the copper oxide layer. This is why pennies soaked in vinegar or lemon juice often come out looking brighter and cleaner.
Dish soap, on the other hand, works differently. It doesn’t directly dissolve the copper oxide. Instead, it helps to remove dirt and grime from the surface of the penny, which can improve their overall appearance.
Baking soda, when mixed with water to create a paste, is a mild abrasive. When used with a bit of rubbing, it can physically scrub away the tarnish. Ketchup is also acidic (from the vinegar and tomatoes). The acids in ketchup react with the copper oxide layer on the penny, helping to break it down and remove the tarnish.
These chemical reactions happen because of the fundamental properties of the acids and how they interact with the copper and oxygen on the surface of the penny. It’s a great example of how chemistry is all around us!
Analyzing the Results: What Did You Discover?
Now, let’s take a look at the results. Which cleaning solution worked the best? Which ones were less effective? This is the perfect time to make observations and compare and contrast.
Examine the pennies cleaned with each solution. Which pennies are the shiniest? Which are the dullest? Did you notice any differences in the cleaning effectiveness of the various solutions?
Rank the solutions based on how well they cleaned the pennies. You might find that vinegar and lemon juice are at the top of the list.
Think about why some solutions worked better than others. Consider the acidity of the solutions. What are the key components that make them effective?
You might have found that some solutions made a significant difference, while others had only a minor effect. Some solutions may even have scratched the pennies or not worked as well, depending on the components of your cleaning solutions.
Venturing Further: Expanding the Experiment
Once you’ve tried this initial experiment, the fun doesn’t have to end there! Experimentation is the heart of science! Here are some ideas for expanding the experiment and learning even more:
You can change the variables. For instance, try different soaking times. How does the length of time the pennies are immersed affect the final result? Try longer soaking times, or shorter ones.
Test different concentrations of your cleaning solutions. Does a more concentrated vinegar solution clean better than a diluted one?
Try other cleaning solutions. Experiment with things like salt and vinegar (a classic!), toothpaste (which often has abrasive properties), or even different types of soda.
Consider how to record your work. Keeping a record of your observations is a key part of the scientific process. Try recording the appearance of the pennies before and after cleaning. Note the time each penny was in the solution, and which cleaning solutions you used.
A Convenient Guide: Introducing Your Printable PDF
To make this experiment even easier and more engaging, we have created a handy printable PDF guide! This downloadable resource is your go-to companion for conducting the experiment, providing a structured framework to enhance the learning process.
The PDF includes a comprehensive materials list, ensuring you have everything you need at your fingertips. It also provides a step-by-step guide with clear, easy-to-follow instructions, so you can execute the experiment with confidence. The printable is designed to be engaging, and it is perfect for all ages.
Furthermore, the PDF includes an observation chart where you can record your results, document your findings, and jot down any additional thoughts or questions that come up. There is even room for drawing!
Where to find the Printable PDF:
Download the free printable PDF guide. Simply click here to access your printable PDF experiment guide. Feel free to share the PDF with friends!
Wrapping it Up: In Conclusion
Cleaning dirty pennies is much more than just a fun activity. This experiment offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about oxidation, acids, and chemical reactions in a simple and engaging way. You’ve seen how common household items can be used to tackle a scientific challenge, turning a tarnished object into something shiny and new.
This experiment also provides a great introduction to the scientific method. You’ve gathered materials, formulated a hypothesis (which cleaning solutions would work best?), conducted an experiment, observed the results, and drawn conclusions.
We encourage you to try this experiment with your printable PDF guide! The printable PDF will make it even easier and more fun to clean those dirty pennies! Share your results, and post any questions you may have. Science is a journey, and we’re happy to explore it with you!
Additional Helpful Tips
- Adult Supervision: Always supervise children during this experiment.
- Experiment Safely: Follow all safety precautions.
- Clean Up: After the experiment, wash and dry all materials thoroughly.
There are a lot of wonderful additional experiments you can do! If you enjoyed this experiment, there are many other engaging science activities that explore chemistry, physics, and the world around us. Feel free to explore the internet or your library!
