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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;900fine, post: 215090, member: 6036&quot;]This is not a question of <b>chemistry</b> - it&#039;s a question of <b>logic</b>.</p><ol> <li>It doesn&#039;t matter what sugars have ketones associated with them, or what the properties of those sugars are. They aren&#039;t in play here, so they are irrelevant.</li> <li>Esters are a different class of organic compound. They aren&#039;t in play here, so they are irrelevant.</li> <li>We aren&#039;t dealing with a ketone GROUP, which I gather in this context is talking about a ketone hanging off some other aliphatic hydrocarbon. They aren&#039;t in play here, so they are irrelevant.</li> <li>The only thing which counts is ACETONE and acetone ALONE. It doesn&#039;t matter what any other ketones do in any other setting. All that matters is what THIS ketone does in THIS setting - that is, brief contact with metal surfaces followed by a proper rinse with very pure water.</li> <li>The point remains that acetone is <b>relatively</b> inert. It has relatively few reactions :<ol> <li>acid / base catalyzed Hydrolysis : Yes, it can cleave to form acetaldehyde and methanol. But who cares ? Are we introducing acids ? No. Bases ? No.</li> <li>It can be oxidized (burned) : Are we gonna light it up while on the surface of the coin ? I bet we&#039;ll get some toning then. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie104" alt=":yawn:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></li> <li>The big one - acetone is not an oxidizing agent. It does not oxidize the metal surface.</li> </ol></li> </ol><p>Pure acetone is relatively inert - &quot;Relative&quot; meaning compared to other compounds - and only relevant in this numismatic setting.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But the real irony is this : all the chemistry - or &quot;chem-mystery&quot;, as some call it - is irrelevant.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>What really counts is the empirical experience of folks who have tried it with coins.</b></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And it&#039;s clear it&#039;s a terrible idea using cheap-o acetone, and maybe bad all the time. I dunno.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So some real questions are :</p><ol> <li>Has anyone had a GOOD experience, in which the coin never discolored after a long period ? If so, do tell details.</li> <li>When should acetone be used - and when should it be <b>avoided</b> ?</li> <li>Is this considered cleaning ? Does it alter the surfaces ? If so, it is categorically out.</li> <li>Why do dogs have black lips ? (Just seeing if you&#039;re still reading...) <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></li> </ol><p>Well, that&#039;s the news from Lake Wobegon - where all the men are strong, the women are good-looking, and the coins are above average ![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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