Chemistry Project On Coin Analysis

Prepared By: Saumya Kharya XII

A Session : 2011-2012 Board Roll Number : Father Ag
nel School

AIM
Qualitative Analysis Of Different Coins

CERTIFICATE
This is hereby to certify that, the original and genuine investigation work has
been carried out to investigate about the subject matter and the related data co
llection and investigation has been completed solely, sincerely and satisfactori
ly by Saumya Kharya of Class-XII,Father Agnel School, regarding her project titl
ed Qualitative Analysis of Coins .
Teacher s Signature

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It would be my utmost pleasure to express my sincere thanks to My Chemistry Teac
her Mrs. Jyoti Verma, in providing a helping hand in this project. Her valuable
guidance, support and supervision all through this project titled Qualitative Analy
sis of Coins , is responsible for attaining its present form.
Saumya XII

PURPOSE
I was interested in finding out the contents of the coins we use in everyday lif
e money transactions. Humans have been using coins since their invention in 700
B.C. for trading of goods and services. Another fact which inspired me to do thi
s project is that I am in touch with qualitative analysis whose knowledge with o
ther factors helped me to do so.

CONTENTS
Introduction Theory Apparatus Chemicals Required 20 Paise Coin(India) 1 Cent Coi
n(U.S.A) 2 Rupee Coin(India) 1 Rupee Coin(India) Result Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more element
s.Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase-microstructure. Alloys
usually have different properties from those of the component elements. Alloying
a metal is done by combining it with one or more other metals or non-metals tha
t often enhance its properties.Alloys are used in ornaments, bells, statues, bui
ldings, and even coins.
Coins-A Historical Approach
The history of coins extends from ancient times to the present, and is related t
o economic history, the history of minting technologies, and the history of coin
collecting. Coins are still widely used for monetary and other purposes. Since
the time they were invented in 700 B.C., coins have been the most universal embo
diment of money. The first coins were made of electrum, a naturally occurring pa
le yellow mixture of gold and silver that was further alloyed with silver and co
pper. Some of the earliest coins were beaten at the edges to imitate the shape o
f a cow, in indication of their value. Most coins are circular but some were rec
tangular. Also a lot of coins, especially in China had a hole through the center
so they could be tied on to a string.Some of the earliest coins to be made pure
ly from silver and gold were the silver Dirham and gold Dinar. Coins were first
made of scraps of metal. Ancient coins were produced through a process of hittin
g a hammer positioned over an anvil.The Chinese produced primarily cast coinage,
and this spread to South-East Asia and Japan. The type of mintage method (being
hammered, milled or cast) does limit the materials which can be used for the co
in. For example antimony coins, (which are very rare) are nearly always cast exa
mples, because of the brittle nature of the metal, and thus it would break if de
formed, which is a key part of the milling or hammering process. Coins today are
of great value and are used in our day-to-day lives.

THEORY
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced i
n large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a
legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory.
Coins are usually metal or a metallic material and sometimes made of synthetic
materials, usually in the shape of a disc, and most often issued by a government
. Coins are used as a form of money in transactions of various kinds, from the e
veryday circulation coins to the storage of large numbers of bullion coins. In t
he present day, coins and banknotes make up currency, the cash forms of all mode
rn money systems. An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or a m
etal and nonmetal. They are generally harder than their components with reduced
malleability and ductility. Alloys are prepared to enhance certain characteristi
cs of the constituent metals, as per requirement. The coinage metals comprise, a
t minimum, those metallic chemical elements which have historically been used as
components in alloys used to mint coins. Coins that are intended for circulatio
n have some special requirements based on the conditions they will encounter. Fo
r example, a coin may be in circulation for up to 30 years, and so must have exc
ellent wear resistance and anticorrosion properties. Achieving this goal necessi
tates the use of base metal alloys. Some metals like manganese have occasionally
been used in coins, but suffer from making the coins too hard to take an impres
sion well . A common base metal alloy for everyday coinage is CuproNickel (also
cupronickel), with varying proportions of copper and nickel, most commonly 75% C
u 25% Ni. Cupronickel has a silver color, is hard wearing and has excellent stri
king properties, essential for the design of the coin to be pressed accurately a
nd quickly during manufacture.

APPARATUS
Test Tubes Test Tube Holder Test Tube Stand Beaker Burner Tripod Stand pH Paper
Wire Gauge Water Bath Filter Paper

CHEMICALS REQUIRED
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Sodium Hydroxide Hydrogen Sulphide Gas Nitric Acid (HNO3
) Ammonium Acetate Potassium Iodide Potassium Chromate Potassium Ferrocyanide Am
monium Hydroxide Ammonium Chloride Potassium Sulphocyanide Potassium Nitrite Amm
onium Thiocyanide Dimethyl Glyoxime Bromine Water Ammonium Carbonate Ammonium Ph
osphate

Twenty Paise Coin (India)Made in 2003

Experiment Observation Inference Ammonia(NH4+) is absent. Zero Group: Add concen
trated solution of No white fumes observed. sodium hydroxide(NaOH) to it. Group
I: Add dilute solution of No white precipitate formed. hydrochloric acid to the
original solution. Group II: Add dilute solution of HCl to the original solution
and pass H2S gas through it. No black or yellow precipitate formed. Pb2+,Ag2+ a
nd Hg22+ are absent.
Pb2+,Cu2+,As3+ are absent.
Group III: Add NH4Cl and NH4OH(in A white precipitate is obtained. Al3+ may be p
resent. excess) to the original solution.
Confirmatory For Al3+: Lake Test: Dissolve the white precipitate obtained int di
lute HCl. Add to it two drops of blue litmus solution. To this, add NH4OH drop w
ise till blue colour develops. Blue precipitate is observed floating in the colo
urless solution.
Al3+ is present.
Group IV: Use the same solution as used in Group III tests and pass H2S gas thro
ugh it. Group V: To the original solution, add NH4Cl, NH4OH and (NH4)2CO3. Group
VI: To the original solution, add NH4Cl, NH4OH(in excess) and (NH4)2HPO4.
No precipitate formed.
Co2+,Ni2+,Mn2+ and Zn2+ are absent.
No white precipitate formed.
Ba2+,Ca2+ and Sr2+ are absent.
A white precipitate is obtained. Mg2+ may be present.

RESULT
Twenty Paise Coin of India contains Aluminium(Al3+)and Magnesium(Mg2+).

One Cent Coin(U.S.A)Made in 1987

Experiment Zero Group: Add concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide(NaOH) to it
. Group I: Add dilute solution of hydrochloric acid to the original solution. Gr
oup II: Add dilute solution of HCl to the original solution and pass H2S gas thr
ough it. Confirmatory for Cu2+: Heat the black precipitate with 1-2 ml of 50% HN
O3.The precipitate dissolves and add Blue coloured solution obtained. Cu2+ may b
e present. dilute H2SO4 and alcohol. When there is no white precipitate,add NH4O
H in excess. Potassium ferrocyanide test: To one part of the blue solution A cho
colate brown precipitate is Cu2+ is present. add acetic acid and potassium obtai
ned. ferrocyanide solution. Potassium Iodide test: A white precipitate is formed
in To another part add acetic acid the brown coloured solution. and potassium i
odide solution. Group III: Add NH4Cl and NH4OH(in A white precipitate is obtaine
d. excess) to the original solution. Group IV: Use the same solution as used A d
ull white precipitate is in Group III tests and pass H2S obtained. gas through i
t. Cu2+ is present. Observation No white fumes observed. Inference Ammonia(NH4+)
is absent.
No white precipitate formed.
Pb2+,Ag2+ and Hg22+ are absent.
A black precipitate obtained.
Cu2+ may be present.
Al3+,Cr3+,Fe3+,Fe2+ are absent.
Zn2+ may be present.

Confirmatory for Zn2+: Sodium hydroxide test: To one part of the original A whit
e precipitate is obtained. Zn2+ is present. solution add sodium hydroxide Add mo
re NaOH to dissolve the solution drop-wise. precipitate. Potassium ferrocyanide
test: To another part, add potassium ferrocyanide solution. A white or bluish wh
ite precipitate. Zn2+ is present.
RESULT
Twenty Paise Coin of India contains Zinc(Zn2+) and Copper(Cu2+).

Two Rupees Coin (India)Made in 2003

Experiment Observation Inference Ammonia(NH4+) is absent. Zero Group: Add concen
trated solution of No white fumes observed. sodium hydroxide(NaOH) to it. Group
I: Add dilute solution of hydrochloric acid to the original solution. Group II:
Add dilute solution of HCl to the original solution and pass H2S gas through it.
Confirmatory for Cu2+: Heat the black precipitate with 1-2 ml of 50% HNO3.The p
recipitate dissolves and add dilute H2SO4 and alcohol. When there is no white pr
ecipitate,add NH4OH in excess. No white precipitate formed.
Pb2+,Ag2+ and Hg22+ are absent.
A black precipitate obtained.
Cu2+ may be present.
Blue coloured solution obtained.
Cu2+ may be present.
Potassium ferrocyanide test: To one part of the blue solution A chocolate brown
precipitate add acetic acid and potassium is obtained. ferrocyanide solution. Po
tassium Iodide test: To another part add acetic acid and potassium iodide soluti
on.
Cu2+ is present.
A white precipitate is formed in Cu2+ is present. the brown coloured solution.
Group III: Add NH4Cl and NH4OH(in A white precipitate is obtained. excess) to th
e original solution. Group IV: Use the same solution as used A black precipitate
is obtained. in Group III tests and pass H2S gas through it.
Al3+,Cr3+,Fe3+,Fe2+ are absent.
Ni2+ may be present.(If the original solution is green).

Confirmatory for Ni2+: Dimethyl glyoxime test: To one part of the original solut
ion add ammonium hydroxide solution and few drops of dimethyl glyoxime. Sodium h
ydroxide - bromine water test: To another part add sodium hydroxide (in excess)
and bromine water and boil. A bright rose red precipitate is obtained. Ni2+ is p
resent.
A black precipitate is obtained.
Ni2+ is present.
RESULT
Two Rupee Coin of India contains Copper(Cu2+) and Nickel(Ni2+).

One Rupee Coin (India)Made in 2010

Experiment Observation Inference Ammonia(NH4+) is absent. Zero Group: Add concen
trated solution of No white fumes observed. sodium hydroxide(NaOH) to it. Group
I: Add dilute solution of hydrochloric acid to the original solution. Group II:
Add dilute solution of HCl to the original solution and pass H2S gas through it.
No white precipitate formed.
Pb2+,Ag2+ and Hg22+ are absent.
Pb2+,Cu2+,As3+ are absent. No black or yellow precipitate formed.
Group III: Add NH4Cl and NH4OH(in A reddish brown precipitate is excess) to the
original solution. obtained. Confirmatory for Fe3+: Dissolve the reddish brown p
recipitate in dilute HCl, and divide the solution into two parts. Potassium ferr
ocyanide test: To one part of the above solution add potassium ferrocyanide solu
tion. Prussian Blue colouration is obtained.
Fe3+ may be present.
Fe3+ is present.
Potassium sulphocyanide test: To the second part, add a little Blood red coloura
tion is potassium sulphocyanide obtained. solution.
Fe3+ is present.
RESULT
Two Rupee Coin of India contains Iron(Fe3+).

RESULT
Amount
One Cent Coin Two Rupee Coin One Rupee coin
Country
U.S.A India India
Year
1938 1987 2003 2010
Ions present
Al3+ and Mg2+ ions Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions Fe3+ ion
Twenty Paise Coin India

BIBLIOGRAPHY
LABORATORY MANUAL OF CHEMISTRY
BY- VEENA SURI
DINESH COMPANION CHEMISTRY
BY- S.K. MALHOTRA
WEBSITES

http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.cbseprotal.com