Copper Plated Nails Cool Science Experiment

In this fun, easy, and cool science experiment for kids, we’re going to attempt to use pennies to copper plate a nail. 

Materials:

• Glass
• 2 lemons
• Knife
• About twenty dull pennies
• One large clean nail
• Salt
• Scouring powder cleaner
  
  
  
  
  

Instructions:

1. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze them into the glass.
2. Add the pennies, a few at a time, into the lemon juice.
3. Add a pinch of salt.
4. Wait about three minutes.
5. While you wait, clean the nail with the scouring powder and get it as clean as you can.
6. Put the nail into the glass and wait about fifteen minutes.
7. Remove the nail and observe any changes.
   
   
   

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How it Works:

The lemon juice is an acid and dissolves some of the copper from the pennies. This creates copper ions in the lemon juice. When the nail is added into the lemon juice, the copper ions are attracted to the iron in the nail. The copper ions build up over time and the result is a shiny copper plated nail. 

Make This A Science Project:

Try other metal objects like washers and bolts. Try other acids like vinegar. Try copper wiring instead of pennies. 

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