This is the classic “golden penny” alchemy experiment.
Sodium Hydroxide SDS
3M solution of Sodium Hydroxide
(make 333 ml) use 40g
granulated zinc
copper penny
From Szczepankiewicz:
- Step A. Granular zinc dissolves in NaOH solution, forming a zincate anion, [z~(oH)~]”.
- Step B. Zincate ion becomes reduced to metallic zinc on the surface of the copper penny.
- Step C. Zinc and copper, when heated in the Bunsen burner flame, form brass.
References:
Szczepankiewicz, Steven H., Joseph F. Bieron, and Mariusz Kozik. “The “Golden Penny” Demonstration: An Explanation of the Old Experiment and the Rational Design of the New and Simpler Demonstration.” Journal of Chemical Education 72.5 (1995): 386. Journal of Chemical Education. ASC Publications. Web. 27 Jan. 2016. <http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed072p386>.
Muhammad, Mir. “Making Solutions.” Home Science Tools. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2016. <http://www.hometrainingtools.com/a/making-chemical-solutions-science-teaching-tip>.
