ipl-logo

Analysis Of Copper In A Penny By Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy

518 Words3 Pages

Sarah Everett CHEM 316 Monday 12-3:50 February 15, 2017 Analysis of Copper in a Penny by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy Introduction: The United States cent coin, also known as the penny, was originally composed of pure copper from 1793 to 1837 and the composition of copper in the penny has been diminishing since. For the next 145 years, the penny’s copper composition wavered between 95% and 88% until 1982 where the copper composition was reduced to 2.5% while the rest of penny was composed of 97.5% zinc. The reason for this drastic change of copper composition is unknown. However, the use of copper extends further than just penny composition. Copper is quite useful in many realms, especially construction, since it is both water damage resistant and it can conduct electricity. Copper …show more content…

The first is atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy which is a more sensitive tool of measurement in that it excites individual metal atoms. The second is ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy which is a less sensitive tool of measurement in that it excites the whole molecule or ion. Atomic spectroscopy is used for the measurement of metallic elements at major and trace levels. In AA spectroscopy, light of a specific frequency is passed through a flame containing free atoms. Absorbance of light is measured and is proportional to the concentration of atoms. In an atomic spectroscopy experiment, the liquid sample is sucked through a plastic tube into a flame whose high temperature will break molecules apart into atoms. The concentration of the element in the flame is measured by the absorption of light. From there, a monochromator selects the wavelength that will reach the detector. UV-Vis spectroscopy is used for quantitative determination of compounds that absorb UV radiation. This determination is based on Beer’s

Show More
Related

  • Copper Sun Sparknotes

    492 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book Copper Sun is a great book that’s about a 15 year old girl named Amari and her people who were taken from her village. Most of the adults and little kids were gunned down but lots of the young and healthy teenagers were taken and chained up. Amari and her friends didn’t have a choice but to walk a great distance along the ocean. They later arrived at a slave ship. Which is what Amari and her friends had become.

    Read More

  • Copper Penny Research Paper

    189 Words  | 1 Pages

    Adding copper pennies to the vase helps preserve the flower and help it live longer. A copper penny could be used as an antibacterial agent. It helps the flower stay alive longer because the copper prevents the fungi from growing in the inside, which could kill the flower. The help of the penny copper means that there will be none or limited fungi which is one factor why the flower could die faster.

    Read More

  • Penny Synthesis Essay

    743 Words  | 3 Pages

    The composition of the penny is a mixture of copper and zinc. The composition of a specific penny can be determined by the year of production marked on the coin. In the article “Is My Penny Solid Copper or a Copper-Plated Zinc Cent,” the writer states, “If your… penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc”(Bucki).The difference in composition has an effect on price, as copper is worth more than zinc. Since the U.S. Mint has began the production of pennies, over 1.65 trillion pennies have been made for circulation.

    Read More

  • Copper Pennies Research Paper

    452 Words  | 2 Pages

    Traveling from the U.S. mint into the hands, pockets, and wallets of citizens, ultimately, pennies will develop a dirty look due to daily interactions with their surroundings. In recent years, many have discovered possible solutions to restore the original shine of copper pennies. In order to determine what solution most effectively sterilizes our common pocket money, it is crucial to understand what makes pennies dull in the first place and what can counter this reaction. Over time, pennies receive a dark coating, creating a dull appearance.

    Read More

  • How Do Pennies Affect The Economy

    144 Words  | 1 Pages

    But when they join with other atoms, like oxygen in the air, they form molecules. “In the year of 1837 and so forth, the pennies were made of copper, tin and zinc. Now, current

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay Pennies

    790 Words  | 4 Pages

    Pennies aren't significant. A quote from the text, “Pennies take up too much space on our dressers at home,” (Sommer, Paragraph 3) This text basically tells the reader that pennies are significant to people's homes. The readers can also infer that the penny is a waste of space because of their worth.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: Preserving The Penny

    667 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kary Cabrera, Supernova Preserving the Penny The one-cent coin, also known as the penny, has been seen as a nuisance by many throughout the years. Many postulate that the penny will no longer be minted, meaning produced, within a few years. However, the solution seems to be controversial as others see the penny as an important part of the United States history. The penny should be preserved for the following reasons that will be divulged in this essay.

    Read More

  • Abolish The Penny Essay

    841 Words  | 4 Pages

    The complete waste of time and money spent producing these pennies just to be forgotten in the couch cushions is astounding. If every penny is 1.8 cents to produce than the government is giving away 800 million USD every single year. The same article says, “...10 million new useless items punched out by government workers who could be more usefully employed tracking counterfeiters.” In other words, the government isn’t only wasting money on penny production but, also a working staff. U.S. currency could be more protected if it wasn’t for the pesky penny.

    Read More

  • Pennies Synthesis

    125 Words  | 1 Pages

    Pennies cost more than they 're worth, and the United States should cease production to due this fact. According to Source #1, the U.S. penny costs 2.41 cents to produce one penny. That 's is over two times of what it can pay for. In 2011, the governments taxpayers lost $60.2 million on the production and distribution of pennies. The year prior— 2010— taxpayers lost $27.4 million, and in 2009, they lost $19.8 million (Source #1).

    Read More

  • Penny Cost 2x Research Paper

    551 Words  | 3 Pages

    700 million dollars isn 't worth the one cent piece, we could be using this money on charity or something else important. Though the penny has been part of the U.S for more than a hundred years, it should not be minted anymore because of the high production cost and other countries such as canada don 't even bother using them at all. People argue that the penny should stay because of its long time and history with the US, but what they don 't know is that the penny cost more than 2.4 cents per penny. “The US Mints budget in 2010 was 27.4 million dollars in penny production”(source 1). The time wasted counting money could add up to over 700 million dollars, this money could be spent on something important.

    Read More

  • Why Would Henry The II View The Church As A Threat To Russia

    703 Words  | 3 Pages

    25) A European noble like Henry the II would view the church as a threat to their power because Henry had a hard time controlled the church. Also, the churches usually had many conflicts and arguments against other churches, which decreased the power that Henry the II had. 26) It can be argued that Benedict of Nursia is the founder of monasticism because he was responsible for the introducing monasticism.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On The Penny

    701 Words  | 3 Pages

    Off with the Head The penny is one of America 's most iconic coins, but yet people toss them once in their possession. Most thoughts about the penny are more negative than positive. Lewis, Mark’s passage (Source A) shows the reason is has not been banned yet. Kahn, Ric’s passage (Source B) explains the penny was only good in its prime, and now is wasting our time.

    Read More

  • Why The Penny Should Be Retired

    489 Words  | 2 Pages

    That is why I am supporting the retirement of the pennies. With me supporting the retirement of the penny I have some evidence on why the penny should be retired. One piece I have is in the article it states that it costs 11 million dollars to make pennies in other countries. That it is a lot of money being used even though the penny doesn’t really get used, it just gets pushed to the side and never gets used. They could be doing more with the 11 million dollars.

    Read More

  • Pennies Should Be Eliminated Essay

    521 Words  | 3 Pages

    That just shows how I'm right about getting rid of the coin. I know taxpayers don't don't want to keep wasting their money on the penny. Pennies serve in today's

    Read More

  • Abolishing The Pinching Penny

    1099 Words  | 5 Pages

    In an article arguing against the penny from the New York Times, William Safire states, “Two-thirds of them [pennies] immediately drop out of circulations, into piggy banks or – as The Time’s John Tierney noted five years ago – behind chair cushions or at the back of sock drawers next to your old tin-foil ball.” This number may be an exaggeration, but it proves the point. Pennies are not used anymore; they instead get saved or lost throughout people’s homes. Other countries have also dropped the penny, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand (“Elimination”). Like so many of us in America, these countries see the harm in the one cent, and are doing well without it.

    Read More

More about Analysis Of Copper In A Penny By Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy

Open Document