Making a "Gold" Penny - A Copper/Zinc Alloy (Brass)

[@trustinjesus1119]

I've been making these for years using the zinc from inside 1982 and newer pennies, what a complete hassle that is using a blowtorch and a big needle piercing the pennies and the mess of the copper clads, but tonight for the first time I followed your advice and ordered some zinc powder and used one big tablespoon full and instead of doing 10 it coated 35, and I'm going to try to do 30 more tomorrow with the same solution and zinc powder still in the Pyrex bowl. I'm going to be Father Christmas this year, Thank YOU!

[@geetugupta7244]

Woooah, just 1 min and a whole lot of info,thx...!!

[@wbreslyn]

Great to hear!

[@wendolyntrozzo7971]

Who knew Dr. B had the voice of Morgan Freeman? Between the calm, measured voiceover and the science, that was completely hypnotic. Also it explains the gold pennies that came in the mail!

[@sarojkumargazmer1547]

What is the purity of the sodium hydro oxide used. Please give the quantity of NaOH that is to be used per litre of water in simple lab demonstration.

[@physiobob1]

Very cool. A bit of intrigue and alchemy mixed into one. I am sure the students appreciate your hands on approach to education.

[@wbreslyn]

Yeah, the gold penny lab is certainly one the students remember. And it does a good job of demonstrating the idea of an alloy.

[@vancouverizer]

If you can't access zinc powder, another option is a "Flanged Insert Nut" (very common at your standard hardware store). Some of these are just zinc plated, but there are many that are a zinc alloy with a larger percentage of zinc. Or you can grind up (or sand down) a newer (after 1982) US penny. They are 97.5% zinc (plated with copper). If you still have Canadian pennies lying around you need to look for the years 1997-1999. Those are the only years they made them mostly from zinc (98.4%). Between 2000-2012 (when they stopped making them) Canadian pennies were made from steel (94%).

[@fbueno2030]

great now I can make people think that I'm rich

[@creatorsun8222]

Lol I found one laying in the chemistry hallway at school

[@wbreslyn]

Perhaps this is your new lucky penny... --- Dr. B

[@Kevin64.]

Lucky

[@philstat100]

Thank You for the great video and information. You answered some questions that I had about zinc and brass. Again Thank You.

[@poptropicabob]

It can wear off but to make the color last longer (either silver or gold colored) put it in a place with no oxygen like a ziploc bag squeezing all of the air out of it then closing the bag making sure it is completely closed will let it have less oxygen.

[@lightcapmath2777]

Thank you Dr. B for this video. Very interesting to watch. DVD:)

[@ossamanasr85]

Really cool experiment. Can this experiment be done in a large stainless steel container not in glass? I have a large copper ball the size of a football with some protrusions around it and I need to submerge it in about 30 liters of water to cover it . If this is possible, how much zinc will be in 30 liters of water. And would heating on a gas stove work? If it is not possible what do you advise me? Thank you

[@Furiouspaul]

i remember the old days where you can take a normal copper penny and put it on top of an incandescent light bulb and after a few hours it will turn gold.

[@Furiouspaul]

Pennies before 1982 were mostly copper and worked with this easy trick

[@drewrutledge8908]

I'm trying this

[@martialaw566]

@Drew Rutledge, Did it work? Cause I'd assume this is just a joke on how the penny looks gold in gold light

[@adelinefizzix2987]

holy shit it actually works

[@Joshua-hz3cl]

Can confirm it works, but it's not as brilliantly colored as the zinc coated ones I've done.

[@shinigami_360]

Ultimate!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@wbreslyn]

😎

[@irvindeleon7215]

I did this today and it was so much fun at school

[@wbreslyn]

Agreed! This is one of my favorite labs to do with my students! --- Dr. B

[@dahmanus2002]

verry instructive videos, thanks for the course

[@martialaw566]

Wait so from the comments I'm reading, technically if you heat up 1982 pennies and newer (which more zinc inside) would it make brass? So you could skip the dangerous solution part entirely

[@wbreslyn]

Good question. 1982 is sort of a mix of solid copper and the newer zinc/copper pennies. But all are zinc/copper after 1982. The thing is that the copper is literally paper thin. So you sometimes see a bit of brass form if you look but there is so little copper not much happens. --- Dr. B

[@martialaw566]

Huh, alright, thank you for the response! Always cool to learn something new

[@Thebarnardfactor]

Dr.B my only problem with this is wouldn't the zinc metal react with the sodium hydroxide to produce an insoluble hydroxide wouldn't be easier to use zinc chloride solution to plate the copper penny instead

[@eugennathan]

can anyone help? soo, i boiled with baking soda a trumpet mouthpiece it was goldis at the beggining but after that it had a really dark, cooper like color, any way to make it goldish again with simple elements? thanks :)

[@Hap6605]

So a penny actually is zinc alloy and nickel on the inside from 1982 to present day but would it work on a actual copper penny....

[@tessachristman1486]

I've had a gold penny I found for many years and always wondered if there was anything special about it. Well, nothing to special, but maybe I can sell them for a few extra dollars. I love science so maybe it is special!

[@jonnybmk6212]

I'll give you 2 pennies for it.

[@lostshoe5166]

@@jonnybmk6212 I'll give you a '79 and 2 2020's for it lol

[@ir8free]

zinc also composes the penny's interior.

[@bmaxarnold5742]

Can i use zinc ingots

[@Pandapung1]

Yes, but it will take longer time in the solution

[@sebastiang7786]

So would this be a substitutional or interstitial alloy?

[@stevegabriel3752]

substitutional

[@jonnybmk6212]

Wow, thanks for that fast reply. Just had an idea... I have copper plated quarters, nickels, and dimes using copper sulfate and electrolysis. Can I now plate those with zinc and hit them with heat to make a gold colored (brass) coating??? THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wbreslyn]

That is interesting! I think it would work. Let me know if you try and it works (or doesn't).

[@TheSpiffingSangheili]

thats awsome im going to make me a few gold (brass) pennies and sell them on the street for 25c each

[@jonnyb.gaming1032]

The value would increase slightly

[@WaqarAhmad-jc3mb]

Sir , how can i change the colour of silver into gold colour. Thanx

[@MacroAggressor]

How durable is the brass layer? For instance, would it hold up to regular use in tabletop gaming and being stored in bags full of similar coins? Would a sealant be necessary in this application?

[@wbreslyn]

I've found it is durable also long as it is dry. It's brass so they use the same alloy on door knobs and such. -Sealant wouldn't be a bad idea if you have it. --- Dr. B

[@didiermeral7620]

Please at 1:22 you heat the penny, transforming it in brass, so please, what is the minimum heat to reach for this ?

[@wbreslyn]

I used a Bunsen Burner which gets to 600 - 800 degrees C. --- Dr. B

[@didiermeral7620]

@@wbreslyn Thanks !

[@Luisnavejaz]

Only works with copper?

[@wbreslyn]

For this alloy, Brass, yes. Brass is made of zinc and copper. --- Dr. B

[@JaneDoe-uf9go]

What ratio of lye to water are you using?

[@wbreslyn]

It's just on the edge of being a saturated solution. I keep adding water to keep the NaOH dissolved.

[@midsavinka5757]

How to get that zinc?

[@therail7315]

Can you do it the opposite direction. Instead of coating zinc on copper, can you coat copper to zinc and heat it up?

[@wbreslyn]

You'd probably need to electroplate the Cu onto the Zn. Something like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZPZn2qKl7ioaNk

[@leonluiskevinsabrumpetsch8602]

do you think sodium bicarbonate will do?

[@wbreslyn]

+leon luis kevin sa brum petsch No, I don't think so. In fact, I'd be amazed if it did. --- Dr. B

[@marthabalmaceda7613]

Hola tengo varios penis con error y la verdad me interesa mucho venderlos si conocen a alguien ke veinte rece favor de llamar al 6861826018

[@pauls5745]

so cool! now I know how to electroplate brass onto almost anything. first it must be copper plated, then put into a sodium hydroxide (lye) solution with zinc. should last longer than brush-plating brass

[@wbreslyn]

Now to figure out how to copper plate! I'm guessing that involves electricity... ---- Dr. B

[@pauls5745]

just as easy,, here's a quick vid I found on copper plating kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWTconauibWUq80. I think Lowe's has the Zep Root kill for making the copper sulfate solution

[@ownedkapoo]

Is it brass plated or could you melt the entire thing and it would still be brass?

[@wbreslyn]

+ownedkapoo It's only brass plated and the brass layer is very thin. So if you melted the entire penny it wouldn't look like brass.

[@idvorkin]

Will this work with a quarter, if you start by stripping the initial quarter's coating (by heating quarter and dipping in methyl alcohol)?

[@wbreslyn]

Igor Dvorkin Good question. I don't think it will work with a quarter. I believe quarters are an alloy of copper, nickel, and some other metal. So there's really not an outer layer that I know of. To get the brass alloy (with the penny) you're melting zinc into the copper. I'm not sure if the zinc would melt into the quarter. But it's worth a try (next time I do this I'll see if a quarter works).

[@staceybledsoe2947]

Did it work?

[@littledreamdrops]

can you change brass back to zinc?

[@wbreslyn]

Yes, but not easily that I know of. Since they have different melting points (Zn and Cu) you might be able to separate them based on that difference. There may also be some other difference, physical or chemical, that would work. --- Dr. B

[@PandaMasterMlgKing]

I just spray painted my penny's

[@shaniceshipp8677]

How long does it stay Gold for. I'm making a product.

[@wbreslyn]

I have a few that are several years old. They do tarnish on a necklace though. But just on a table, no problem.

[@shaniceshipp8677]

@@wbreslyn thank you very much. I stumbled across your chemistry videos too. Small world.

[@timotejbernat462]

What Molarity is the hydroxide solution, and how much zinc per volume of solution?

[@wbreslyn]

I used a saturated NaOH solution initially and then added zinc so there was still some undissolved at the bottom. Then I added more as needed. Because I used heat I also had to occasional add more water. But hot, saturated NaOH solution is a dangerous so I had it all in a fume hood, used googles, gloves, etc.

[@biancasbabybows8578]

Could I substitute the Zinc metal with metal nails?

[@yamatsukami987]

nope, most nails are iron based.

[@vancouverizer]

If you have galvanized nails (steel nails coated with zinc) then yes, but it will take a lot longer than using zinc powder.

[@stockie6]

can you still use it as real currency or just best to keep it as a collectible ?

[@napoleonbouchet9712]

Most likely a collectible.

[@jonnybmk6212]

I made a zinc penny using electrolysis (or hydrolysis or whatever), can I hit that with heat to make it gold? THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wbreslyn]

It you have a thin layer of zinc over the copper you should be able to melt them together to make brass (the gold color on the penny in the video). You don't have to heat it very long in a Bunsen burner for the change to happens.

[@willieking7710]

What if its only plated in copper and is really aluminium will iylt still work the same way or is there a diffrent way.

[@wbreslyn]

I don't think so. The NaOH I use to make the zinc stick to the outside of the copper would react with Aluminum and dissolve it. --- Dr. B

[@marthabalmaceda7613]

Vendo centavo plateado con error precio 55mil $dlls yo kiero35 $dlls

[@leonluiskevinsabrumpetsch8602]

so, if i plate steel with copper and then plate it with zinc, that will work too?

[@wbreslyn]

+leon luis kevin sa brum petsch I would expect so since the copper would mix with the zinc and that would form brass.

[@PANOS5656]

@@wbreslyn the 5 euro cent coin is steel covered with copper. It works but very soon corrodes for some reason getting back to copper color.

[@wbreslyn]

@@PANOS5656 There is some interesting chemistry going on there!

[@valgailjarrett]

My brass has turned whitish using vinegar and cleaner how to get it back to shiny brass gold

[@marshmallow8870]

Any aluminum or brass polish.

[@alphiaxchannel8580]

I'm doing an investigatory project, can this be useful? seems pretty cool though.

[@wbreslyn]

The NaOH used to make the "gold" pennies is pretty strong stuff and quite dangerous. --- Dr. B

[@Capitaltwo3710]

You know, if you get your golden (Brass) Pennie’s, and heat them for less than a minute, they will melt and you will get easy access to its inner zinc which you can use to create more zinc plated pennies. I’m not suggesting you to do it and damage the coins.

[@bran9380]

what if i copper plate zinc instead of zinc plating copper?

[@wbreslyn]

Hmmmm. I suppose you'd have a thinker layer of copper on the penny. Copper is something people frequently use in plating. --- Dr. B

[@marshmallow8870]

Technically a penny newer than 1982 is copper plated zinc.

[@Corard]

Do you know why the zinc powder stuck on the penny's sets on fire when drying? I did this experiment and I cleaned my penny and left the wet zinc on a paper towel, suddenly it spontaneously bursts into flames setting the paper towel on fire, from that knew not to place the soaked zinc into a bin...

[@wbreslyn]

Corard Mooney That is interesting, I'm not sure why that would happen. Zinc dust is particularly explosive but it doesn't seem like it should catch on fire when wet and not a dust in air. It may have been something to do with the zinc and copper setting up an electrochemical cell (see www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/c123/battery.html) on the damp paper towel but I'm not sure that would start a fire.You might see if that phenomena is reproducible (but do it in a lab with appropriate safety equipment). Perhaps you've discovered something new!--- Dr. B

[@Corard]

We (A small group) discovered this accidentally, about a week later we saw if we could do it again, we could. It's really strange and smells bad. After burning for a few seconds it then turns into Zinc Oxide, we have no idea how it works either!

[@rich1051414]

+Corard Mooney (Gaming) Someone has already published research papers on pyrophpric zinc. pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/1933/TF/TF9332900659#!divAbstract

[@KillinSmallz]

Does the entire penny change to the brass color, or is it just the outer layer?

[@wbreslyn]

After 1982, and for some 1982 pennies, just the outer layer. This is because the pennies have zinc in the center and zinc on zinc is just silver. Before 1982, and some 1982 pennies, are all copper. So the zinc on copper where you made the cut would be brass when heated and the metals mix. I had to think about that a moment! --- Dr. B

[@KillinSmallz]

So by taking solid copper and running it thru this process, the entire metal is changed not just the surface? Is it still chemically copper after its been transmuted with the zinc?

[@wbreslyn]

Only a thin layer on the outside where the zinc coating mixed with the copper turns to brass. Brass is an alloy, a mixture of two elements. So the elements have not transmuted, there are still the same number of zinc and copper atoms, it's just that by mixing the resulting alloy has different physical properties (e.g. a different color). --- Dr. B

[@KillinSmallz]

Thank you

[@hemanthaldankar7813]

can it works on iron

[@wbreslyn]

I don't believe this particular reaction would by you can plate other metals on Iron. It's done quiet frequently: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plating

[@SayviRock]

my dad ate a penny and it came out gold

[@wbreslyn]

truly a magical man...

[@sebastianalmanza4756]

s0xx _00 Instructions unclear, I have a molten penny and a fluorine fire

[@hakeemmayaki3258]

@@wbreslyn will the color change on trying to machine it to jewelries? What will be the new properties? Reply through [e-mail]

[@ithink4994]

WHERE I can find zinc powder

[@xxdiocranexxrebel3383]

KASSER MOHANAD internet

[@vorkev1]

ebay I was going to do this I looked into it and it turns out to do it you need a penny from before 1982 and the newer one is zink with a copper platting and will melt right away. I also found out you need to have a has mate suit to do this the fumes and gases from heating zink can kill you and it takes little and if you inhale any of the powder chancers are you will be deal in a matter of days or so sick you want to die. do not do it my friend its not worth the risk.

[@sebastianalmanza4756]

Huh, didn't know you could use NaOH. I only used zinc chloride or zinc sulfate before.

[@wbreslyn]

My sense is that the NaOH is much faster but also more dangerous. --- Dr. B

[@sebastianalmanza4756]

Wayne Breslyn Just tried this recently, the corrosion on my tabletop says you're right

[@wbreslyn]

Yeah, that NaOH is some strong stuff. Sometimes used to dissolve flesh in preparation of skeletons.

[@truckytalky6630]

very interesting

[@wbreslyn]

Thanks! --- Dr. B

[@MemeKing44]

nice video thank you

[@jonnyb.animationstutorials7119]

it will work without a hotplate Mines working right now the edges of the penny are silver and the face is starting to be covered.

[@wbreslyn]

Good to know. I'm guessing it takes a bit longer but should be equally effective. You might even get a more even coating... --- Dr. B

[@juliennegimeno185]

I think I have one of your gold pennies! :)

[@Joshua-hz3cl]

So I assume I don't need a hot plate.

[@wbreslyn]

It speeds things up if you have one...

[@raygross9298]

Is there a recommended temp?

[@wbreslyn]

I had it hot but well below boiling as I didn't want any to splash out. The cooler it is the longer it takes to coat the penny in zinc.

[@raygross9298]

Thank you!

[@gentbar7296]

temp to weight ratio pls

[@wbreslyn]

Not quite sure what you mean? The temp of the liquid was around 60-70 degrees C. The solution was saturated. Does this help? --- Dr. B

[@xxtwistyxx_266]

Cool

[@elisantos2844]

cool

[@FinalConsensus]

Leave these around where you go so people come across them and think it's a lucky penny

[@wbreslyn]

It would surprise them to find it!

[@jagdishmahra8451]

Contam physic is real

[@ecstaccy5464]

We did this today in chemistry sksks

[@wbreslyn]

Awesome, this is a great lab! --- Dr. B

[@hillarytaylor1232]

Is this gold real or fake? if it's real how many karats?

[@alexproshkin7892]

It's brass it only looks like gold, but it is actually just zinc and copper melted and mixed.

[@vorkev1]

if that's true then howcome when you heat a newer pennie it will not turn gold after all all pennies after 82 car coper and zink

[@nick-1008]

Btw you need it to be before 1982

[@pauls5745]

no, most of the '82s and all '83 up are copper plated which zinc will bond to

[@SanjayChavan-jm3se]

You sent new videos

[@valuvivao3434]

Do you want to play like coin hunters game

[@maxmccafferty6713]

Couldn't you electroplate it

[@wbreslyn]

Yep, that should work. You could then heat it up and melt the zinc and copper to get the same effect as in the video. --- Dr. B

[@Vicscoincollection007]

Hmm doesn't That Ruin the penny.

[@wbreslyn]

Not really, it just confuses people when you use it in a store. ---- Dr. B

[@jayant5026]

Pawn Shops! You'd better get ready for some money handover cuz ya daddy just discovered how to make gold hAhA! shit it's hard to maintain that accent.

[@mirzaahmad9104]

it is a real gold or fake gold tell me sir

[@Setyjo]

Mirza Ahmad it's fake, the fire just makes the zinc coating burn to a brass color, however holding it in the fire for too long will burn too much zinc off and create a really ugly color, but you can probably trick a few people into believing its gold for a quick $5-$10 if they are not very bright

[@mirzaahmad9104]

you mean this is not gold

[@mirzaahmad9104]

and i will not sell them like gold

[@noghankaravadara8350]

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[@lazerchiefgames1779]

This is a federal felony

[@wbreslyn]

They've not come for me yet ...

[@pauls5745]

no, using coins as part of artwork is legal