The golden penny experiment

Duration: 01:44

Procedure:

1) Wash penny with vinegar and salt

2) Drop it into 3M NaOH (12g NaOH in 100mL water) + zinc metal

3) Dry it, put it on a hot plate, and turn on the heat

4) Gold???

Unfortunately, even though it really looks like it, it isn't real gold. It's actually brass, and it formed because the heat caused the zinc coating, to combine with the copper in the penny.

#shorts