Corrosion!

By: Sarah StallingsCORROSION!

PROBLEM

Out of Rubbing Alcohol, Peroxide, Lemon Juice, and Vinegar what cleans corroded pennies the best?

I have always hated seeing corroded coins, so I wanted to see what cleans them. I went through my piggy bank and found corroded pennies. Then I went online to find different opinions about cleaning corrosion.

INTRODUCTION

Corrosion-: Due to chemical reactions wearing away particles. Corrosion happens when a surface typically metal is exposed to a gas or liquid chemical.

Rubbing Alcohol- Used for disinfecting or to soothe the skin. 70% of rubbing alcohol is made from ethanol. It has a bitter taste and a strong smell (wise Geek).

Lemon Juice- Has the pH of 2.3 and is used to clean pennies and to write secret messages that can only be revealed by heat.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

I think that peroxide will clean the pennies the best because it is used for disinfecting. Also I think that it will clean best because you hear it sizzling.

HYPOTHESIS

20 corroded penniesRubbing AlcoholPeroxideVinegarLemon Juice4 containersTimerTooth brush (to scrub pennies)PenPaper

MATERIALS

1. Gather all materials needed2. Measure ½ cup of Lemon Juice, Vinegar, Alcohol,

Peroxide3. Pour each liquid into 4 small containers4. Put 5 corroded pennies in each container5. Put lid on and shake for 10 seconds6. Set timer for an hour7. Once timer rings scrub each penny thoroughly8. Set back in liquid9. Set timer for an hour10. Pour liquid out and wipe off with paper towel

PROCEDURE

½ cup of each liquidShaking for 10 secondsA set timeWiping off penniesLiquids in same room temperature

CONTROLLED VARIABLE

Rubbing AlcoholPeroxideLemon juiceVinegar

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

Condition of BrushShineResidue on paper towelResidue in liquid

DEPENDENT VARIABLE

ALCOHOL

Condition of Brush:

Shine: Residue on paper towel:

Residue in liquid:

Before: Clean 1 out of 55 being really shiny

None None

After: 2 out of 55 being really dirty

2 out of 5 Very little dirt

None

LEMON JUICE

Condition of Brush:

Shine: Residue on paper towel:

Residue in liquid:

Before: Clean 1 out of 55 being really shiny

None None

After: 4 out of 5Black5 being really dirty

4 out of 5 Dirty but not very dirty

Little pieces of dirt

PEROXIDE

Condition of Brush:

Shine: Residue on paper towel:

Residue in liquid:

Before: Clean 1 out of 55 being really shiny

None None

After: 3 out of 5Yellow5 being really dirty

2 out of 5 None Very little residue

VINEGAR

Condition of Brush:

Shine: Residue on paper towel:

Residue in liquid:

Before: Clean 1 out of 55 being really shiny

None None

After: 5 out of 55 being really dirty

2 out of 5 Dirty but not very dirty

Very little dirt

Overall Lemon Juice cleaned the pennies the best. The pennies that went into the lemon juice were a lot cleaner. Also you could tell the difference between the before and after pictures.

CONCLUSION

Peroxide looked like it was cleaning best because there were bubbles surrounding the pennies.

MAJOR OBSERVATION

I used the same liquid measuring glass to measure out each liquid.

I used different types of containers

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF ERROR

I spent about 18 to20 hours on my project.

TIME SPENT

Mrs. RiffelParentsTanner

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

"Corrosion (chemical Process)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/138721/corrosion>.

"Lemon Juice." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_juice>.

Foster, Niki, and Bronwyn Harris. "What Is Rubbing Alcohol?" WiseGeek. Conjecture. Web. 18 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-rubbing-alcohol.htm>.

WORKS CITED