Properties of Pennies Lab Activity

Purpose
In this laboratory activity you will explore the physical and
chemical properties of copper on the face of a penny.

Materials

4 Pennies
Sodium Chloride in solution (Table Salt)
Acetic Acid (Vinegar)
Sodium Bicarbonate in solution (Baking Soda)
Oleic Acid (Vegetable Oil)
Sucrose in solution (Sugar)
AJAX Super Degreaser
Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Iodine solution
Water

Procedure
You are responsible for writing a numbered list of steps that you conducted for this
experiment. The list should be written in the same order that the experiment was
carried out in. The procedure should also be written in a way that another group of
students could read it and get the same results as you did.
Example:

1. Take a clean dry penny and observed the physical properties of the
penny and record it in the data table.
2. Add 3 drops of methanol solution to the face of the penny.
3. After approximately one minute record any change to the penny in the
data table.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with different solutions.

Process
Create at data table that lists physical and chemical properties of copper. To collect
the data you must observe the penny and react it with common household products
by dripping one or two drops onto the face of the penny and allowing it to sit for one
minute. All experiments should be done in one half of a Petri dish. You must work
in groups of 3 or 4 to test as many reactants on the copper face of the penny as
possible.

Write-Up

This lab should be hand-written in your lab notebook. The lab must include the
following: a title, a purpose, the procedure you conducted, a data table, and
analysis and conclusion questions written using complete sentences and re-stating
the question in the answer.

Analysis Questions(6 pts each)

Answer these in your lab notebook after you have completed the lab.
1. Put a small amount of salt on a penny then use a dropper to add 2 drops of
vinegar. What change happened to the penny? Rinse the penny in some
water and then let it stand for a few minutes, what changed happened to the
penny?
2. Copper domes on building often appear greenish in color. Explain why this
chemical change occurs, and where and what the reactants in this reaction
could be.

Conclusion Questions(2 pts each)

Answer these in your lab notebook after you have completed the analysis
questions.
1. Describe one physical property of copper that makes it useful in our currency.
2. Describe one chemical property of copper that makes it useful in applications
other than currency.
3. The value of copper has grown so much that in 1982 the value of the copper
used to make a penny was more than one cent. Since 1983, the US Mint has
been making pennies mostly out of zinc metal with a thin copper coating. In
your opinion, should the U.S. continue to utilize copper in the making of
pennies, cite some properties of copper to support your opinion.

Grade Rubric
Below is the rubric that you will be graded against.
Category
Title
Purpose
Procedure
Data Table
Analysis Questions
Conclusion Questions
Total

Point
Value
1
1
10
10
12
6
40

Properties of Pennies Lab

Rubric
Title

Name:
Data Table

_____ / 1 pt.
Purpose

_____ / 10 pts.
Analysis Questions

_____ / 1 pt.
Procedure

_____ / 12 pts.
Conclusion Questions

_____ / 10

_____ / 6 pts.

pts.
Total Score

_____ / 40 pts.
Comments:

Properties of Pennies Lab

Rubric
Title

Name:
Data Table

_____ / 1 pt.
Purpose

_____ / 10 pts.
Analysis Questions

_____ / 1 pt.
Procedure

_____ / 12 pts.
Conclusion Questions

_____ / 10

_____ / 6 pts.

pts.
Total Score

_____ / 40 pts.
Comments: