Lifelong Learning Programme

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Chemistry is all around us
Copyright 2015
This project has been funded with
support from the European Commission

Educational Packages

Chemistry and Art

Chemistry and Metal Objects of Cultural Heritage

Step 1 - Activities

Give two spoons of salt into a cap and fill the cap with hot water. After the dissolving of the salt, put into the cap a piece of aluminium foil and old silver jewellery. Observe the clearing of silver accompanied by aluminium dissolving.

Aluminium is a less noble metal than silver. When oxidized silver and aluminium are conductively connected, the oxidation of aluminium and reduction of silver take place. The conductive connection is performed by water and salt.

Clearing of silver accompanied by aluminium dissolving: