How lemon juice clean pennies?

Lemon juice cleans pennies by acting as a natural acid. Here's how it works:

* Acidic Nature: Lemon juice contains citric acid, which reacts with the copper oxide layer that forms on pennies over time, causing them to tarnish and turn green.

* Chemical Reaction: The citric acid in the lemon juice dissolves the copper oxide, effectively cleaning the penny's surface.

* Brightening Effect: The cleaning process removes the tarnished layer, revealing the shiny copper underneath.

Here's how to clean pennies with lemon juice:

1. Gather Supplies: You'll need lemons, a bowl or container, and a soft cloth.

2. Juice the Lemons: Squeeze the juice from one or two lemons into the bowl.

3. Submerge Pennies: Place the pennies in the bowl, ensuring they're fully submerged in the lemon juice.

4. Soak and Scrub: Let the pennies soak in the lemon juice for about 15-30 minutes. You can gently rub the pennies with a soft cloth to help remove any stubborn tarnish.

5. Rinse and Dry: After soaking, remove the pennies from the bowl and rinse them thoroughly with water. Dry them with a clean cloth.

Important Note:

* The cleaning process may cause some discoloration to your hands. It's recommended to wear gloves to protect your skin.

* Be careful not to leave the pennies soaking in lemon juice for too long, as prolonged exposure can damage the copper.

* Avoid using salt with lemon juice, as it can cause additional corrosion to the pennies.

Alternative Methods:

While lemon juice is a great natural cleaner, you can also use vinegar or baking soda to clean pennies. Both methods rely on the same principles of chemical reactions to remove tarnish.