Burning penny?

Question

Okay so i got this new torch... portable... pencil like... very practical...
So i find it's 1st victim : a penny, to test the torch's temperature.
To my suprise, the penny goes red pretty fast, and melt... and then bursts out into flames... a bit too quickly for me to notice. By the time i put it out, quite alot of fumes got released and smells very funny... sour-like.

So now, i'm wondering what was released into the air? What could actually combust in a penny! They are made mostly of steel, then some nickel and copper...

Can anyone identify what created those flames? And if possible what fumes were released? *i'm wondering if it's safe to get anywhere near that place until the fumes sets down*

well um... thanks for the many explanations... Fumes settled down, though i had a few sniffs while putting the "burning penny from hell" out(it was freaking weird man, it was on this rock(unburnable) table where i use my torches usually, and with nothing around, that melted metal puddle just started spewing fire everywhere). IF there was a zinc core, i'd suspect that to have burst into flames... If not, i'd say the most probable answer is copper.

Aaaand the effects of the fumes: sharp small *poke you with something pointy* random pains around the body and limbs. And sliiiight lightheaded-ness so i guess it has an effect, an ill-sided one. But nothing serious i guess *in small quantities*. Still wondering what it was though lol..

Answer 1

Wow, you sniffed a lot of glue earlier didn't you?

Answer 2

Post 1982 pennes are copper-coated zinc (think of a M&M) - something like 97.5% zinc.

Pre-1982 are 95% copper with the remainder being zinc.

No steel unless you've gotten access to some rare coins.

I destroy these things in class every year as part of a lesson (honest and true :-) ) and have never seen flames. Most likely it's some dirt.

But, you make it sound like there was alot of smoke and fumes. I hope you'd notice the molten zinc exploding (the zinc has a much lower melting temp than copper) but maybe not. Go back and look for little silver droplets that may have fallen on something that caught on fire.

Answer 3

Pennys are supposed to be copper nearly exclusively. But there are things added to it. At the best there is gaseous copper in the air. I would stand clear.

Be careful with such experiomentations. Especially if you start a fire anywere near any substance that is rusted. Rust of all kinds is oxidation or the additon of oxygen to the molecule. If you accidentally star such a reaction you better have fast feet.

Answer 4

Well Pennys have a Zinc core, so, you burned right through the copper and got to the Zinc, so ya, here is what zinc is

Zinc is a bluish-white, lustrous metal. It is brittle at ambient temperatures but is malleable at 100 to 150°C. It is a reasonable conductor of electricity, and burns in air at high red heat with evolution of white clouds of the oxide

(it will only contain Zinc if it was dated 1982, or before)

Answer 5

pretty much everything is combustible, given enough oxygen and heat, it more than likely to have been the nickle, 1st then the copper, then the steel, as nickel has a lower melting point then Cooper, and steal has the highest

Answer 6

anything can burn i think. it might have been dirt and grime that was burning. man... that is a pretty hot torch if it can catch a penny on fire. ive used a bunsen burner and it only gets it glowing. it probably released some sort of toxic gas so dont breathe it

Answer 7

Copper can release toxic fumes, just keep sniffin.

Answer 8

don't worry. the only thing released is good ol' oxygen. breathe it in. just remember to get to a doctor if u feel like vomitting.

Answer 9

may be if you wanna go book store you can get more information about that .

Answer 10

JUST CUT OFF!