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OBJECTIVES:
When exposed to moist air different metals may lose their shine
and become dull or start to corrode. Dark tarnish on
statues and coins, a green coating on copper pennies,
or red rust on iron nails may form.
In this
experiment you'll learn to identify different metals and types
of corrosion and restore a metal's bright shiny finish.
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
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Wear the gloves whenever you handle or clean the tarnished, oxidized
or rusty objects.
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Sort the objects to be cleaned by type of metal: aluminum, iron, copper,
silver, brass.
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Chose one of the tarnished pennies and
clean it using the toothpaste on a toothbrush or a paper towel.
Try to clean a different tarnished, corroded or rusty metal.
Does the toothpaste clean this item? Record this information on
your
worksheet.
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Make a cleaning solution using baking soda and lemon juice. In a small
bowl mix 4 parts baking soda to 1 part lemon juice making a paste.
(For example, mix
4 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Initially, the
solution may foam; continue to mix until the baking soda and lemon juice form
a paste.)
Choose a piece of oxidized aluminum foil and
clean it using the baking soda paste on a toothbrush or a paper towel.
Try to clean a different tarnished, corroded or rusty metal.
Record this information on
your
worksheet.
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MATERIALS:
Latex Or Vinyl Gloves
Paper Towels
Small Bowl
Spoon (For Mixing)
Toothbrush
Clean and Tarnished, Oxidized or Rusty Objects:
Rusty Nail (Iron) and A Clean Nail
Aluminum Foil (Oxidized and Unoxidized)
(Note: when heated the dull side of aluminum foil will show black marks
from oxidation.)
Pennies (Copper) (Tarnished and Untarnished)
Brass Statue (Tarnished and Untarnished)
Silverplated Cutlery (Tarnished and Untarnished)
Copper Clad Pan (Tarnished and Untarnished)
Tarnish Removers:
Toothpaste
Baking Soda
Lemon Juice
Silver Polish
Steel Wool
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Clean one of the tarnished silverplated items
using the silver polish on a toothbrush or a paper towel.
Try to clean a different tarnished, corroded or rusty metal.
Does the silver polish clean this item?
Record this information on
your
worksheet.
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Clean one of the rusty iron items
using the steel wool.
Try to clean a different tarnished or corroded metal.
Does the steel wool clean this item?
Record this information on
your
worksheet.
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Did some cleaners work better than others on certain metals?
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