EXPERIMENT/PROJECT

GUIDELINES
Due Date Component Completed

Topic: Convert copper to silver

Purpose: How the attributes of a metal can be optimized through

alloying?

Hypothesis:

• The attributes of a metal can be optimized or degraded

through alloying.

• Visualization of physical changes of the copper coin

Materials: 150 ml. Hot water

1/2 tbsp. of caustic soda

1/2 tbsp. zinc powder

Glass stirrer

Beaker

Heat the heating plates

Laboratory Tweezers

Beaker Tongs

Copper Coins
 Procedures: 1- add water to the beaker

2- Place the beaker with water on the heating plate

3- Add the caustic soda and zinc powder

simultaneously to the beaker while it is on the heating plate.

4-Stir using the Glass Stirrer

5- Introduce the copper coins

6- Stir and observe the chemical reaction

Research: The discussion on one central concepts of

chemistry: substance and chemical reaction, from macroscopic to
nanoscopic points of view.

Raviolo, A., Garritz, A., & Sosa, P. (2011). Sustancia y reacción

química como conceptos centrales en química. Una
discusión conceptual, histórica y didáctica.

The effects of caustic soda: Its very corrosive and can cause
serious chemical burns, for this reason it discolors the coin

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/caustic-soda-prices-trends-
forecasts-provided/

Deadlines:
All components were met except for the procedure for:
1- Removal of the beaker from the heating plate
2- Little amount of zinc powder
3- Not having removed the substances before depositing the
coins
Name: Runelvys Córdoba
PROJECT SUMMARY WORKSHEET
Due Date: 11/20/23

Exploring minds, turning copper into silver

Question(Statement of Purpose): How the attributes of a metal can be optimized through

alloying?

Hypothesis:

If the attributes of copper can be optimized or degraded by

alloying,then I believe it is an excellent resource for creating
materials that make our daily lives easier.

Materials I will need: 150 ml. Hot water

1/2 tbsp. of caustic soda

1/2 tbsp. zinc powder

Glass stirrer

Beaker

Heat the heating plates

Laboratory Tweezers

Beaker Tongs

Copper Coins
 1- add water to the beaker

2- Place the beaker with water on the heating

plate

3- Add the caustic soda and zinc powder

simultaneously to the beaker while it is on the
heating plate.

Procedures (Detailed Steps): 4-Stir using the Glass Stirrer

5- Introduce the copper coins

6- Stir and observe the chemical reaction

Conclusion:

The concept of chemical reaction depends on that of

substance.

Surprisingly, 10% of the secondary chemistry books

consulted do not directly define the chemical change or
reaction object of study of this science.

If I think about what Chang said (1999) that a process in

which a substance changes will always do so to form one or
more new substances.

This implies that copper is and will be useful to humans.

Annexes:

Fig.1. Placing water in the

beaker

Fig. 2. Materials Mix

Fig. 3. Add the coins

Fig. 4. Observation of the difference