Make your money GROW

Demonstration
The set up to convert the copper coin into bronze .

This should only be performed as a demonstration. Gloves and goggles should be worn at all times by students and teacher.

Alloys can be made by mixing metals together. Brass is an alloy that looks just like gold, it can be polished with a bright golden shine. Brass is a mixture of zinc and copper. An exciting demonstration can be made in class. A story of how the teacher found the secret for a "Rags to Riches" story will help set the scene.

Step 1) Place zinc powder (10g) in approximately 30cm3 of a 2.0 M NaOH solution and heat over a Bunsen burner.
Step 2) Clean a copper coin with methylated spirits and place in the boiling mixture for one minute.
The copper coin about to be placed in the boiling sodium hydroxide and zinc powder mixture.
The copper coin covered in zinc metal
 Step 3) Remove the copper coin which now has a silver appearance. This coin is covered with zinc metal. Wash the shiny coin under a tap and dry with a paper towel.

Step 4) Heat the coin over the blue flame of a Bunsen burner. Watch as the coin changes from a silver to gold appearance.

** Safety equipment. Goggles and lab coates must be worn by all observers and demonstrators.
The bronzed coin.