What are some simularities and differences betwee the pure copper penny and the copper/zinc penny? Why did they decide to change this? And how can you tell the difference (chemically and, hopefully, physically)?
2006-09-08 14:31:50 · 14 answers · asked by horsieluverphisha 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Before 1982 the Pennies were made of an alloy high in copper . The price of copper became more expensive. The value of the copper in each Penny was Worth more than a Penny. The mint had to change the material use to make pennies, if they did not want to loose money; because people would sell the copper in the pennies, and make a profit.
The mint decided to continue to make pennies, but they changed the composition. Today the core of the penny is zinc, the outside shell is a very thin layer of copper.
The pennies after 1982 have a lower density than the pennies after 1982. If you have a sensitive balance or scale you can weigh the pennies and see the weight difference. That is one way to separate the pennies. Just weigh each penny.
If you take a new penny and scratch or file it at the edge, you can uncover the zinc core. If you then place the filed Penny in a beaker of dilute Hydrochloric acid the zinc inside the Penny will react with the acid and after all the zinc has reacted the Penny will be hollow inside. You can the rinse the Penny an then have it float on top of water.
don't do this experiment without supervision.
Read more about the US Penny
see:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/2006-05-10-penny-info_x.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloy
2006-09-08 14:57:50 · answer #1 · answered by Roy G. Biv 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Pennies Before 1982
2016-11-16 09:21:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Pennies before and after 1982?
What are some simularities and differences betwee the pure copper penny and the copper/zinc penny? Why did they decide to change this? And how can you tell the difference (chemically and, hopefully, physically)?
2015-08-10 04:53:56 · answer #3 · answered by Jovan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They changed because copper became too expensive to produce the penny--it cost more to make a penny than a penny was worth.
You can easily tell the difference by weighing the two. The pure copper penny weighs more. Also, if you scratch the copper/zinc penny with a knife or other sharp object, you will scrape away the copper and see the shiny zinc inside.
2006-09-08 14:34:09 · answer #4 · answered by surfinthedesert 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The high copper content on the pre 1982. Allowed a much clearer sharper image on these earlier pennies. When the die struck the blank it created a coin that was designed to last forever. Unlike the clad coins produced now.
2016-03-17 04:01:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can easily see the zinc under the thin clad of copper by simply taking a knife and scraping off the copper coating.
The penny will probably soon be eliminated as it costs much more to make a penny than it is worth.
Or it might be made out of plastic in the future.
2006-09-08 14:38:26 · answer #6 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They both appear to be the same color.
They are slightly different in mass.
Zinc has a much lower melting point than copper. Therefore, a newer penny can be melted with an acetylene torch while a copper penny can not.
2006-09-08 14:34:48 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. G 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
let the new pennies sit in some Mauriac acid about two days and it will eat the zinc out and leave just a thin copper cover.
2006-09-08 15:37:05 · answer #8 · answered by vinel10 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They changed it from all copper to copper and zinc because zinc is cheap but copper is expensive so if they put mostly zinc in it, but some copper, it looks the same, but costs much much less, and i belive the year they changed it was 1992 not 1982
2006-09-08 14:39:08 · answer #9 · answered by Leon K. 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Yes, it's possible
2016-07-27 12:25:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋