This document discusses copper oxidation and how copper turns green through exposure to oxygen in the air. It explains that copper oxide forms on pennies and turns them green over time. The document also discusses how hydrochloric acid, formed from a mixture of vinegar and salt, can be used to clean oxidized pennies and surfaces by removing the copper oxide layer. Finally, it notes that hydrochloric acid has cleaning applications in buildings like hospitals by removing messes and debris.

1. By:
Caleb Jones

2. copper Oxide
The rust on a penny is formed when
oxygen in the air reacts with the copper
to form copper oxide (Science 1).
When this rust turns green, it becomes
copper carbonate (Science 2).

3. ue of
Libe
rtyLady Liberty is
made out of
copper. Over time
the copper has
turned green
through the
chemical process
of copper
oxidation.

4. Copper, Copper
Everywhere!
Copper fixtures are used in building
materials, like in HVAC units, plumbing,
and electrical wires as well as for
decorative touches like gutters, and
copper pans.

5. Presto!
•When you
place an
oxidized
penny into
taco sauce,
the penny
becomes
shiny again!

6. What’s in that sauce?
 The two ingredients in
taco sauce that work
together to clean a penny
are vinegar and salt.
 When combined they
create a mild
hydrochloric acid.

7. Hydrochloric
Acid
 The chemistry behind the vinegar salt cleaner is the
compound Hydrochloric acid (HCl).
 A vinegar and salt mixture creates a weak HCL (Schcm
1).
 The equation that explains this is: “HC2H3O2 + NaCl
 HCl + NaCH3O2”.
 The vinegar formula, HC2H3O2, added to the formula
for salt, NaCl, makes hydrochloric acid plus sodium
acetate (Blindt 1).

8. Use HCl at
home!
 Combine equal parts of
vinegar and salt, then
scrub away:
 Clean bathrooms, like
around the toilet and
sink
 In the kitchen it can be
used for cleaning the
counter, stove,
refrigerator, etc…

9. HCl in the community…
 Hydrochloric Acid is also used in hospitals and
nursing homes to clean up messes in the building (
National 2).

10. Work Cited
 Hints and Tips. Schsm, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
http://www.schsm.org/html/ hints_and_tips.html
 National Pollutant Inventory. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.
http://www.nip.gov.au/substance/hydrochloric-acid/
 Science.yourdictionary.com. Love To Know, 1996-2013. Web. 11
Apr. 2013.
http://Science.yourdictionary.com/articles/why-does-copper-
oxidize.html.
 Shiny Pennies. Jessica Blindt, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/demos/ShinyPennies.html
 Steve Spangler Science. Steve Spangler, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.
htt://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/the-
cleaning-power-of-taco-sauce-bright.html