This term we are getting excited about Science! Students will explore a range of reactions and learn the indicators of a chemical reaction.

The students have started what will be four weeks of experiments combined with procedural writing. This week was oxidation of copper coins using sodium to speed up the reaction.  

Coin Experiment Aim - By Baz

See what would happen when copper is placed in a salt & vinegar mixture and to see what happens when the coin is put on a paper towel soaked in vinegar.

Hypothesis

It will become very clean and it will stink of salt & vinegar.

Equipment

• 100ml of white vinegar

• 1 tsp salt clear cup

• Plastic spoon

• Two paper towels

• Pastry dish

• Four 10c coins

• Water to rinse

• Timer

• Camera

• Air tight container

Method

1  Collect all the equipment

2  Mix the white vinegar and salt together

3  Put your coins in one at a time

4  Time one min

5  Take the coins out

6  Wash the coins with water

7  Put two of the coins on a paper towel

8  Put the other two coins on the other paper towel then put the paper towel on top of the pastry dish, then pour vinegar on top of the coins that are on the pastry dish.

9  Put the coins inside the air tight container

Results

The aim was to see what would happen when you put two coins into a salt and vinegar mixture so it changed colour to a orangery black colour with an acidy smell. 

Half a hour later from that the colour changed to a pinky white colour with a stronger smell, then a hour later the coins turned into a cyan turquoise colour and the smell disappeared. One hour later the turquoise colour spread thickly and it felt a bit greasy.

The hypothesis did not support the results. The hypothesis said the coin would become clean. But the colour changed many times, the smell changed as well and the texture changed as well to thick and greasy. The green colour is called malachie!