Copper to Silver to Gold
Description: A copper penny is zinc-plated, resembling silver. When the penny is heated, it becomes yellow in color, resembling gold.
Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z. Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry
Year: 1991 Vol: 4 Page: 263
Keywords: Copper, Zinc-plated, Silver, Heat, Brass
Rating: 
Hazard: Medium
- Acute toxicity hazard
- Aquatic toxicity hazard
- Fire hazard
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Scalding hazard
- Burn hazard
- Electric shock hazard
Effectiveness: Good
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Results are clearly observable without guidance
- Time to results is low
- Moderate failure rate
Difficulty: High
- Use of open flame
- Multi-step procedures with varying results
- Complex manipulations involving multiple steps
- Demos require training or practice
- Use of toxic reagents
- Demos in which a display is used
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Thermal gloves recommended
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Absorbent material on hand
- Chemically resistant surface required
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
Class: Electrochemistry, Redox
Division: General, Analytical Chemistry
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