Thread: What metal was coin made of?

My chemistry teacher did one experiment. There was aqueos solution of CuSO4 in a beaker. First she put an iron nail and a brown coating was observed on the iron nail. After that we put a coin. I don't what metal was it made of. it was looking like aluminium coin. after some time when we took it out a black coating was observed and some where brown too and some black and brown precipate was also visible at the bottom.
What was the coin made of. Was it an alloy.

Yes most coins sem to be made of alloys, in the uk some of our coins appear to be copper yet are attracted to magnets! - the range of alloys is wide, I suggest you google "metal coins" for a list, but nickel, silver, copper, gold, steel are some.

try this link for some help..

http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/metal.html

Well a very well and informative sit it seems to be.
If i could get it's home page adress i could browse better.

just remove the /metal.html will give you the home page.

Originally Posted by Megabrain

Yes most coins sem to be made of alloys, in the uk some of our coins appear to be copper yet are attracted to magnets! - the range of alloys is wide, I suggest you google "metal coins" for a list, but nickel, silver, copper, gold, steel are some.

try this link for some help..

http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/metal.html

Yes you are right...The british One Pence coin is an Alloy. The Two Pence coin, however is made from pure copper.

Originally Posted by leohopkins

Yes you are right...The british One Pence coin is an Alloy. The Two Pence coin, however is made from pure copper.

and the two pence coin is now worth three pence :wink:

Leo, the british 1P coin will stick to a magnet like sheet to a blanket.

Originally Posted by Megabrain

Leo, the british 1P coin will stick to a magnet like sheet to a blanket.

Hmmm......VERY STRANGE !!!

I've just tried it....None of the two pence coins I have sticks to magnets. I have a one pence coin that WILL stick to a magnet, and an older one piece coin that wouldnt....At first I thought it may have something to do with the layer of oxide around the outside of it, so I cleaned it up but it still would not stick to the older coin.

Soon all british coins will be plated steel.... Tony blair is hoarding the good stuff away for his retirement..

Originally Posted by Megabrain

Soon all british coins will be plated steel.... Tony blair is hoarding the good stuff away for his retirement..

LOL. That can't be too far away :wink:

Originally Posted by anand_kapadia

My chemistry teacher did one experiment. There was aqueos solution of CuSO4 in a beaker. First she put an iron nail and a brown coating was observed on the iron nail. After that we put a coin. I don't what metal was it made of. it was looking like aluminium coin. after some time when we took it out a black coating was observed and some where brown too and some black and brown precipate was also visible at the bottom.
What was the coin made of. Was it an alloy.

You can visit here for more details of indian coins..

basically its an alloy of transition metals