One chemical that can turn pennies gold is potassium iodide (KI). I discovered this while conducting a science experiment in high school. We were exploring different chemical reactions and their effects on everyday objects. One of the experiments involved using KI to turn pennies from their usual copper color to a shiny gold.
First, we gathered all the materials we needed for the experiment. This included a small glass container, some KI powder, water, and a few old pennies. We set up our workspace and made sure to wear protective gloves and goggles to ensure safety.
Next, we prepared the KI solution. We added a small amount of KI powder to the glass container and then slowly poured in some water, stirring gently until the powder dissolved completely. The solution turned a yellowish color, indicating that the KI was fully dissolved.
Now it was time to add the pennies to the solution. We carefully placed a few pennies into the glass container, making sure they were fully submerged in the KI solution. We left them in the solution for several minutes, occasionally stirring gently to ensure even coverage.
As we watched, something magical happened. The pennies slowly began to change color, transforming from their original copper tone to a vibrant golden hue. It was fascinating to witness the transformation right before our eyes.
We let the pennies sit in the KI solution for a little while longer to ensure the color change was complete. Once we were satisfied with the results, we carefully removed the pennies from the solution and rinsed them under running water to remove any excess KI.
The end result was a collection of stunning golden pennies. It was incredible to see how a simple chemical reaction could completely alter the appearance of an everyday object. We were thrilled with the outcome of our experiment and excited to share our findings with our classmates.
Potassium iodide is a chemical that can turn pennies gold. It was an amazing experience to witness the color transformation firsthand and see the power of chemical reactions in action. This experiment sparked my interest in chemistry and the world of scientific exploration.