Clean it, to eliminate what? Grease and oil? 409. Cuprous or Cupric Oxide? Salt and vinegar.
Cleaning a penny with vinegar and salt is a chemical change. The vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with the salt (sodium chloride) to form a chemical compound that removes the tarnish on the copper surface of the penny. This reaction changes the composition of the penny's surface, making it appear shiny and clean.
Clean MoneyI read somewhere that copper pennies can be cleaned by soaking them in olive oil, but some collectors recommend not to clean coins. Another great way to clean pennies is to use a solution of vinegar and salt. Fill a cup about 1/4 of vinegar and a teaspoon of salt (more salt, faster reaction). The tarnish that forms on a penny is copper oxide. The salt and vinegar create an acid solution that causes the copper oxide to dissolve off the coins. Once they are clean they should have their original shiny coat. Remember though, if there are pits in the pennies they will show now that the oxide has been removed. If you don't have vinegar any acid such as lemon juice or Coke/Pepsi will work as well.HOWEVER ....Cleaning an ordinary modern penny is fine because there are so many of them. But you should NEVER, EVER try to clean a collectible coin because anything you have at home will damage the coin's surface and reduce or even destroy its value to another collector.If you clean pennies with just salt, it wouldn't be clean. If you cleaned them with just vinegar, it wouldn't be clean.
Physical change
To clean or remove deposits from a copper penny, try soaking it in a mixture of vinegar and salt. You can also use lemon juice or ketchup to help dissolve the deposits. Gently scrub the penny with a soft toothbrush to help remove any remaining residue.
There is no real way to clean a penny. Believe me i just done this experiment and the myths about vinegar and baking soda and vinegar and salt and ketchup and hot sauce and lemon juice and salt DO NOT WORK. When i done the experiment i left them sitting over night nothing changed. The one thing that cleaned the penny the most was the lemon juice and salt and this is how that experiment goes.Step #1: Get a cup of lemon juice and add salt.Step #2: Spin the cup slowly to blend in the salt.Step #3: Add the penny and for three minutes spin the cup around.Step #4:Take the penny out and scrub it with a towel then wash it with cool water.Step #5:Enjoy a clean penny.Yes BUTTTTT ....NEVER, EVER try to clean RARE coins to make them "look better". Dumping a modern penny in Coke to see what happens is a good chemistry experiment, but don't try it with an Indian penny from your grandfather's coin collection because it'll go from being worth possibly several dollars as a collectible, down to only a cent or two as a damaged coin.
Salt &vinegar
A mixture of vinegar and salt or lemon juice and salt can effectively clean a penny by removing oxidation and dirt. These acids help dissolve the tarnish and reveal the shiny copper surface of the penny.
If you have any tarnished pennies in your penny jar, you can easily clean them in vinegar. If you leave your pennies in white vinegar and salt for about 30 minutes and they will come out shiny and pretty clean. Be sure to rinse the vinegar off.
A mixture of vinegar and salt is commonly used to effectively clean a penny. The vinegar's acidity helps to dissolve the tarnish, while the salt acts as an abrasive to scrub away dirt and grime. Simply soak the penny in the mixture for a few minutes, then gently rub it to reveal a shiny surface.
Lemon juice and salt can clean a dirty penny alsovinegar and salt
Cleaning a penny with vinegar and salt is a chemical change. The vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with the salt (sodium chloride) to form a chemical compound that removes the tarnish on the copper surface of the penny. This reaction changes the composition of the penny's surface, making it appear shiny and clean.
Vinegar is more effective for cleaning pennies than Sprite. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which can help break down the tarnish on the penny, whereas Sprite may not be as effective due to its lower acidity level.
Vinegar is a weaker acid than lemon juice, allowing it to dissolve the copper oxide layer on the penny more slowly and gently. The addition of salt in the vinegar solution helps to increase conductivity and enhance the cleaning effect by creating an electrolyte solution that speeds up the chemical reaction between the vinegar and the copper oxide on the penny.
A combination of vinegar and salt, or a paste of baking soda and water, can help clean a penny by removing dirt and tarnish. Gently rubbing the penny with either of these solutions can improve its appearance.
When vinegar and salt are combined to clean pennies, a chemical reaction occurs that removes the tarnish on the coins. The acidic vinegar breaks down the tarnish while the salt acts as a mild abrasive to help scrub away the debris. This process can restore the shine and luster of the pennies.
It does actually..... I did it in 5th grade and the penny was SHINY...... she let me take it home
A mixture of vinegar and salt can clean a penny effectively because the acid in vinegar reacts with the copper oxide on the penny, while the salt acts as a mild abrasive to help scrub away dirt and grime. Alternatively, lemon juice or ketchup can also be used to clean a penny due to their acidic nature.