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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;davidh, post: 1263963, member: 15062&quot;]Several threads, current and past, have discussed pennies with no copper, just zinc, showing.</p><p><br /></p><p>It&#039;s time to clear up a few misconceptions here.</p><p><br /></p><p>Acid will not dissolve Copper, at least not as easily as many of you would seem to believe.&nbsp; Hydrocholric acid does not react with Copper at all.&nbsp; Sulphuric acid and Nitric acid will react with Copper, but only with applied heat and added oxygen.&nbsp; The reactions of these two acids produce poisionous gasses so it&#039;s not something you&#039;d want to do at home without safety precautions and good ventilation.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Sulphuric and Nitric acids will react with (dissolve) Zinc so if either are used to remove the Copper from a plated penny, the Zinc will also be dissolved and you won&#039;t wind up with a Copperless Zinc penny, just a blob of metal.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you want to remove the Copper from a plated penny, use Ferric Chloride.&nbsp; This will remove the Copper and leave the Zinc untouched.&nbsp; It is safe to handle and doesn&#039;t produce dangerous afterproducts.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you want to remove the Zinc from a plated penny and leave the Copper shell, file a small spot on the rim to expose the Zinc.&nbsp; Then place the penny in Hydrochloric acid.&nbsp; The acid won&#039;t touch the Copper but it will dissolve the Zinc from inside, leaving a hollow shell of Copper.&nbsp; Hydrochloric acid is very corrosive and will cause any iron or steel anywhere near it to rust.</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m not advocating doing any of the above experiments, I&#039;m just a bit weary hearing &quot;dipped in acid&quot; as an explanation by those who don&#039;t really know what they&#039;re talking about.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Even &quot;safe&quot; chemicals need to be handled correctly and acids have obvious dangers.&nbsp; If anyone decides that, since they didn&#039;t blow up their house with their home chemistry set that they can handle a simple experiment with a penny, don&#039;t blame me when you&#039;re sitting in the ER with holes burned through your skin.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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