Copper oxide dissolves in a mixture of weak acid and table salt-and vinegar is an acid. You could also clean your pennies with
salt and lemon juice
or orange juice, because those juices are acids, too.
What substance cleans a dirty penny the best?
Vinegar (or Lemon Juice) and Salt
This method is the best way to clean your pennies, and it will produce a very bright orangey-copper color on your pennies. It does this by using the low levels of acids that are contained naturally in vinegar and lemon juice to remove the patina (brown oxidation) on the penny.
How do I clean a corroded penny?
To remove the oxidation from copper pennies,
pour about a quarter cup of white vinegar in a glass or plastic bowl and mix in about a teaspoon of salt
. Stir it up till the salt is dissolved, and then toss in your pennies. Only do a few at a time and make sure they’re not touching each other.
Can vinegar clean a penny?
It turns out that vinegar is an acid, and the acid in the vinegar reacts with the salt to remove what chemists call copper oxide which was making your pennies dull. … Add
more pennies
to the bowl for 10 seconds, but this time , don’t rinse them off. Place them on a paper towel to dry off.
Can you clean a penny with Coke?
Simply place
one coin in a glass or tub and pour coke over
the top, enough so that it is fully submerged in the liquid. Leave the coin to soak for about 5 minutes or so and then check on its condition. If you feel that it needs longer, you can soak it for up to 15 minutes.
What are the 15 most valuable pennies?
- 01 of 16. 1914-S Lincoln Penny. …
- 02 of 16. 1944-D Lincoln Penny on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet. …
- 03 of 16. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny. …
- 04 of 16. 1872 Indian Head Penny. …
- 05 of 16. 1969-S Lincoln Penny–Doubled Die Obverse. …
- 06 of 16. 1926-S Lincoln Penny. …
- 07 of 16. 1877 Indian Head Penny. …
- 08 of 16. 1914-D Lincoln Penny.
Can vinegar damage coins?
Baking Soda And Vinegar – Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins’ Value. … In fact, it works so well that, like the other coin cleaning brews mentioned here, it can completely strip away the original patina and obliterate the value of the coin.
How do professionals clean coins?
Gently rinse the coin with distilled water
. Pour distilled water over the surface of both sides of the coin. Or, set the coins in a shallow bowl of distilled water, and let them sit for a few minutes. Note: It’s crucial not to use tap water, since the chemicals and fluoride found in tap water could damage your coin.
How do you clean old pennies without devaluing them?
- In a jar, combine one cup vinegar (or lemon juice) and 1 tablespoon salt. …
- Pour the solution into the plastic container. …
- Add the coins in a single layer, so none of the coins are touching. …
- When you remove the coins and wipe them with a cloth or paper towel, they should look shiny.
Why do pennies turn green in vinegar?
Why did the unrinsed pennies turn blue-green? When the
vinegar and salt dissolve the copper-oxide layer, they make it easier for the copper atoms to join oxygen from the air and chlorine from the salt to make a blue-green compound
called malachite.
How do you clean dirty coins without vinegar?
Soap. Cleaning your old coins with
gentle dish soap and water
can loosen some of that built-up dirt. Fill a small plastic container with warm water, add a few drops of mild soap, immerse the coins, and rub with your fingers or a soft toothbrush to clean.
Why do shiny pennies turn dull?
The negatively charged oxygen atoms in our air are attracted to the positively charged copper atoms in the penny. When oxygen binds with copper, they form a new molecule known as
copper oxide
. … This is why most pennies you see look dirty or tarnished—it’s not actually dirt but copper oxide that makes them look so dull.
What is the best way to clean a coin?
Take the coins out and
sprinkle some baking soda over them
; then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush them clean. Rinse them out thoroughly with hot water; using tongs or gloves to hold them to avoid burning your fingers. Place them on a soft, cotton towel and leave to air dry.
Why does dish soap clean pennies?
The two elements combine to form dark chemicals called copper oxides. The acetic acid in vinegar dissolves these chemicals and leaves the copper surface of the penny looking shiny.
Soap can clean lots of things
, but it can’t dissolve copper oxides.
Does soy sauce clean pennies?
Vinegar and lemon juice both work really well for cleaning pennies. But,
ketchup was
the clear winners for our pennies, with soy sauce next, maybe with a little more time they would have gotten a little bit cleaner. This is a fun experiment to try with younger kids!
At what age do pennies become valuable?
Lincoln pennies that were minted
between 1959 and 1982
tend to be worth more since they are almost 100 percent copper, rather than an alloy.
