Copper and Kids

Fun Experiments with Copper

  • Copper Chemistry in Action: A Penny shines when it is new. Then it tarnishes. This experiment reveals how to restore the penny to its original shine. The experiment also shows how to make a penny turn blue, just like the copper mineral "azurite."
  • Killing Germs with Copper: Copper is antimicrobial. It kills germs. Most other metals are not. This experiment reveals that microbes grow on stainless steel but not on copper. Copper antimicrobial properties are used for self sanitizing doorknobs, railings, faucets and many other products that are frequently touched by humans. 

Educational Resources

  • Copper Timeline

    timeline screenshot Scroll through the past 11,000 years on this powerful timeline to observe how copper has advanced human civilization – from the Stone Age to the Modern Age… and into the future.