What happens when you put a penny in hydrochloric acid?
If you take a penny made after 1982 and place it in hydrochloric acid, the zinc core will dissolve, leaving a fragile copper shell. (You just need to file some notches into the penny to allow the acid to reach the core). A penny made in 1982 could go either way, depending on its actual composition.
How many drops of rubbing alcohol can fit on a penny?
About 20 to 30 drops of ethyl alcohol can be placed on a coin depending on drop size.
What happens when you put pennies in vinegar and salt?
Pennies get dull and dirty because the copper in the pennies reacts with oxygen in the air to form copper oxide. When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide.
Does vinegar eat copper?
Acidic substances react with the surface of copper, causing it to tarnish and corrode almost instantly. This corrosion is highly soluble, leading to the presence of toxic copper salts in the food. This is why it is not recommended to use copper vessels for foods high in acidity, such as milk, wine, or vinegar.
How many drops of soapy water can fit on a penny?
Our results were interesting. I knew that the oil should have less surface tension than the water, but we had equal results – 23 drops for each. Soapy water had the least surface tension. We were only able to get 11 drops of soapy water on the penny.
Why does a penny hold more water than oil?
The cohesive forces between polar molecules are stronger than those between non-polar molecules, such as those in oil or syrup. That’s why you can make a bigger “pile” of water than of oil or syrup.
Why does ketchup clean pennies the best?
Ketchup contains vinegar, a weak acid, which breaks down the copper oxide on the surface of the penny. The salt in the ketchup goes on to add dissolved chloride ions to the mix. These ions bond with the copper, forming copper chloride. The copper chloride helps the vinegar further break down the copper oxide.
How many alcohol drops can fit on a penny?