First: Ask a question. Will pennies dissolve enough for copper to get onto the iron? What will happen to the color dots?
Then, figure it out. Peaches chose the copper plating. She gathered 10 pennies and put them to soak in a vinegar and salt solution. After waiting an hour, she put the piece of iron in (making sure not to touch the pennies). Then it was a waiting game.
Another hour went by with no visible changes. So we left it overnight.
In the morning, there was some definite changes, the copper was plating the iron. Leaving it for a few more hours, and the result was definite: you can copper plate iron with a vinegar and salt solution.
Mr O wanted to know if dots of color would move up paper. So he gathered the paper strips (chromatography paper), markers, and glasses. After putting large dots on one end of the paper, he placed them in the glasses.
Then added a small amount of water; enough to wet the paper slightly, but not touch the dots. And then waited. Mr O didn't have to wait quite as long as Peaches. He sat there with his book and read as 15 minutes passed. Glancing up showed results already.
The colors were moving. Back to the book for another 40 minutes and that was enough time to allow the colors to work up nearly the whole length of the papers. Oh how cool was that! Each color traveled just a little differently.
So, in conclusion, answer the question that you asked to begin with. Peaches very excitedly narrated that copper does plate the iron, just slowly.
Mr O tried not to smile as he relayed how the colors traveled.
All in all a successful science fair. Our kids learned something new, and enjoyed the learning process! That is what made it a success.
