We did the gold penny lab, where we bathed a copper penny in a hot zinc-NaOH mixture to turn it a silver color, then we heated that in a flame to turn it a gold color. There are two questions that go with this lab that I don't understand, however:

Question

4. Did the copper and zinc undergo a physical change or a chemical change when the penny was bathed in the zinc-NaOH solution? Explain your answer.

- I would put it was a physical change because the zinc pretty much just melted onto the penny to turn it a silver color -- is this right?

5. Did the copper and zinc undergo a physical change or a chemical change when the penny was heated in the flame? Explain your answer.

- Wouldn't you also put it was a physical change because the zinc mixed with the copper of the penny to turn a gold color? Or did I get this completely backwards?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated! :D

Answer 1

Both of your questions should be answered as a chemical change. In the first one, the Zn ions in solution are plated out onto the Cu penny. The silvery color you see is Zn. The reaction is
Cu + Zn^+2 ==> Zn + Cu^+2
Basically, you dissolved Cu and plated out Zn. Remember the activity series of metals? Zn is above Cu so Zn^+2 ion comes out of solution and Cu goes in.

Second question.
When you heated the bare Zn-coated copper penny, you formed brass which is a gold color. Brass is an alloy of Cu and Zn.
Here is a site on the web where you can read about the experiment.
http://misterguch.brinkster.net/MLX040.pdf

Answer 2

Ohhhh, I get it now. Thank you so much!! :D

Answer 3

1. is turning the penny silver a chemical or physical change?

2. is turning the penny gold a chemical or physical change?

Answer 4

I think number 1 is physical and 2 is chemical.

Answer 5

Actually both are physical changes because in 1, there is no chemical change and in 2, it is a metallic bond which I think is a physical change.