How to Make Gold Pennies

SAFETY NOTE: This activity requires adult supervision. NaOH should be handled with great care. It is corrosive and can burn skin. Zinc dust should not be inhaled. Safety goggles should be worn the entire time.

Let’s Try It!

1. Place the zinc dust in the evaporating dish.
2. Add 20 mL of NaOH solution to the dish, on top of the zinc.
3. Set the hot plate to medium heat and place the evaporating dish on top.
4. Heat for 5 minutes. Do not boil. When the dish is hot, place a penny in it. Heat for two minutes or until the penny is coated and becomes silver in appearance.
5. Remove the penny from the dish with tongs and drop it into water. When cool, wipe the penny clean with a cloth to remove any excess zinc.
6. Using tongs, hold the penny in the flame of a Bunsen burner and gently heat. The penny should turn "gold" (brass). (Do not overheat the penny.)
7. Dip the penny in the beaker of water until it is cool to the touch.

How does it work?

Even though it’s a “gold” penny, the US Treasury has a little problem with people trying to buy something with gold pennies. In 1983, the US Treasury started making pennies with a zinc core with a copper coating... turns out they weigh less and cost less to make than their pre-1983 counterparts, which were made with an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc. In this activity, soaking the penny in the zinc solution actually coated the surface of the penny with zinc atoms. When the zinc covered penny was heated, the copper atoms of the penny and the zinc atoms coating the penny mixed and turned gold in color. This mixing of metals is an alloy called “yellow brass.”

Artists often work with alloys like bronze, steel, or brass because of their durability and color. Bronze is a mixture of copper and tin. Brass, made in the activity above, is a mixture of zinc and copper. Steel is made of iron and carbon. Alloys are used to make coins, jewelry, sculptures, and other items.