07/31/14

Name: ________________________________________________ Date: ____________

MiniLab: The Floating Penny

Pennies minted before 1982 are copper. However, due to the rising cost of copper,
pennies made since 1982 have a core of zinc that is plated with a thin layer of copper. In
this activity, you will investigate the different properties of two metallic elements- zinc
and copper. You will also be observing a single replacement reaction.

Procedure
1. File a new (post-1982) penny on four opposite edges of the coin so you can see
the silvery zinc interior.


2. Mass the penny. Add information to data table
3. Write your name on a plastic cup/beaker and place your penny inside.
4. PUT ON GOGGLES and Place 20 ml of 6 M HCl in your cup/beaker.
HCl is a strong acid-handle carefully! Make initial observation of the reaction.
5. Leave the reaction undisturbed overnight
6. When the penny is floating, gently remove with forceps. Rinse with water, and
record day 2 observations.
7. Carefully dry the penny inside and out with a paper towel.
8. Mass the dry penny. Add information to data table.

Data

Mass of Penny (before)

Mass of Penny (after)

Mass of Copper in Penny

Mass of Zinc in Penny


Initial Observations:



Day two observations:


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Questions
1. The zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid in a single replacement reaction. Write the
word equation for this reaction.



2. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction (use s, l, g, aq).





3. Write the oxidation numbers above each chemical species (atom or ion) in #2.

4. Write both the oxidation and reducution half reactions:

Oxidation:

Reduction:


5. Describe your observations of the penny in terms of table J. What component
reacted and why? What component did not react and why?







6. What happens to the two products of this reaction? (be specific, where are they
now?)








7. What is the % composition of the penny? (Show Work)
% Cu=



%Zn=
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8. Calculate the number of moles of Cu in your penny.




9. Calculate the number of moles of Zn in your penny.




10. How many moles of HCl were added to the cup?







**Bonus Problems (SHOW WORK)**
Bonus:

1. Using the balanced chemical equation and the moles of zinc reacted (#9), how
many moles of zinc chloride were produced?



2. What mass of zinc chloride was produced?





3. How many moles of HCl were left over after the reaction was complete?






4. If you wanted to produce 1.00 grams of hydrogen gas (for a rather large
explosion) using this reaction how many grams of zinc would you need?