PHOSPHORIC ACID ACTIVITY

May 23rd is "Lucky Penny Day" each year. It's the day where you could choose to go hunting for fallen, abandoned pennies wherever you go, in hopes of finding "good luck." So, good luck!

But, if you're just looking for a little adventure while you wait for your good fortune to come rolling in, try this cool, simple activity and share your results below.

MATERIALS NEEDED

• ​Three (3) old, dirty, preferably rusty pennies
• One disposable cup
• 4 ounces of cola

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill the disposable cup with Cola
2. Add the three rusty pennies
3. Label the cup DO NOT DRINK all over it!
4. Put the cup in a safe place away from small children (and pets)
5. Let sit overnight
6. Next day, check on the pennies and make observations

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QUESTIONS
Did anything surprising happen?
Did the acid in the cola change the pennies?

RESULTS
Your previously old and rusty pennies should now appear nice, cleaner, and maybe even shiny. They are now your new "lucky pennies." The pennies looked old because the copper they're made of reacted with oxygen in the air over time, causing them to rust and maybe even turn green.
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Cola contains a chemical known as  "phosphoric acid," which is strong enough to cause a chemical reaction, and that reaction is strong enough to "clean" copper pennies.

You've just created your own lucky pennies. Good luck and good fortune has been right here with you all along! Enjoy! :)