BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Elementary & Junior High School

NAME: DATE:
SECTION: SCORE:
FOURTH QUARTER: CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS AT HOME

BACKGROUND:

The Statue of Liberty has a heavy coating of copper acetate that

makes it look green. Pennies are made with a zinc core that has been
coated in a thin layer of copper. Different types of chemicals react with
the copper to cause discoloration; mostly in some shade of green. A good
example is the Statue of Liberty. It is coated in copper but has turned
green over the years as a reaction to the elements. Phosphoric, carbonic,
citric and acetic acids will all react differently to the copper on the penny.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Observed and perform chemical reactions at home.

2. Discuss how chemical reactions happened in the simple experiment done at home.

MATERIALS: You will need the following:

four clear plastic cups four discolored pennies cola
lemon juice salt vinegar

PROCEDURE:

1. Place a penny in the bottom of each of the four cups.

2. Pour cola over one penny just enough to cover it.
3. Repeat this with the lemon juice and twice with the vinegar.
4. Sprinkle about a quarter teaspoon of salt into one of the vinegar cups.
5. Label the cups "phosphoric/carbonic acid" for the cola, "citric acid" for the lemon juice, "acetic
acid" for the vinegar and "acetic acid with salt" for the salt and vinegar cup.
6. Once you begin to see a penny begin to change, have a note of it.
7. Keeping a record of results is a critical step in the chemical change.
8. The most effective way to log results for this experiment is first by cup, then by time.
9. Four columns: one for each cup, then list the time and result as the pennies begin to change.
10. Make a video presentation of the whole process together with your results and discussions. Be
creative in presenting your experiment.

Note: Considering this chemical change activity can take more than 24 hours to complete, you will
have plenty of time for observation and interaction.
 BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Elementary & Junior High School

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. Which one began to change first?

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2. Which change were you most surprised by? Why?

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RUBRIC FOR VLOG