You can give copper a silver-colored coating using a chemical reaction involving zinc.
The "Silver Penny" Experiment
The process involves coating a copper penny with zinc to give it a "silver" appearance. This isn't actually turning copper into silver, but rather applying a layer of zinc.
Here's how it's done:
- Prepare the Solution: Create a boiling solution of 1 M zinc chloride containing granular zinc.
- Coat the Penny: Place a copper penny in the boiling solution.
- Observe: The penny will develop a zinc "silver-colored" coating.
Explanation
The granular zinc reacts with the zinc chloride solution. When the copper penny is immersed, a layer of zinc coats the penny's surface, creating a silver-like appearance. This is a demonstration of electroplating.
Important Note
This process doesn't actually transmute the copper into silver. It only coats it. The base metal remains copper.
