FIRST GRADE SCIENTISTS

Lilah, our Scientist of the Week, wanted to know: What is the best way to clean a penny? Good question, now we want to know too!  Lilah came prepared with a couple of different options and lucky for us we each got to try them out.  You may find some cleaner pennies around your house this weekend!

Check out the scientific method for this experiment and be sure to try it at home.

Materials

lime juice

coca cola

soapy water

ketchup

vinegar and salt

and of course... a penny

Procedure
Place your pennies in each of the different liquids or mixtures.  Wait 3 minutes.  Scrub the pennies with a sponge.  Observe.  For better results, let the pennies sit in the liquid or mixture overnight.

Hypotheses
Coca Cola with work the best. (1)
Soap and water will work the best. (3)
Lime juice will work the best. (2)
Ketchup will work the best. (3)
Vinegar and salt will work the best. (4)

Conclusion
Vinegar and salt worked the best.  After only 11 seconds the pennies in vinegar and salt were noticeably cleaner.  And after a little scrub they were shiny like new.  We are going to leave them over the weekend to see if they get even shiner!

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​Happy Birthday Tessa!
7 is just the best!