Do you love to polish silver as much as I? It's got to be one of the most thankless jobs in my opinion. My silver tea accoutrements had badly tarnished with lack of use. Since I wanted to use them in celebration of National Hot Tea Month, something had to be done! Time for a science experiment! I had the children help me gather the necessary items: Baking pan large enough to immerse my silver items, Aluminium foil, pan of hot water and baking soda. This scientific experiment is explained at: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu.HomeExpts/TARNISH.html The baking soda/aluminium combo pulls the sulfur off the siver by a small electrolytic currrent set up through the "salt bridge". Silver and aluminium love to accept sulfur but aluminium does it quicker and will pull the atoms off the item as long as the electrolytic current remains. Reversing the chemical reaction this way leaves ALL the silver intact - rubbing with abrasives and silver cleaner actually removes silver!January 9, 2008
Shining Silver Tea Accoutrements Science Experiment
Do you love to polish silver as much as I? It's got to be one of the most thankless jobs in my opinion. My silver tea accoutrements had badly tarnished with lack of use. Since I wanted to use them in celebration of National Hot Tea Month, something had to be done! Time for a science experiment! I had the children help me gather the necessary items: Baking pan large enough to immerse my silver items, Aluminium foil, pan of hot water and baking soda. This scientific experiment is explained at: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu.HomeExpts/TARNISH.html The baking soda/aluminium combo pulls the sulfur off the siver by a small electrolytic currrent set up through the "salt bridge". Silver and aluminium love to accept sulfur but aluminium does it quicker and will pull the atoms off the item as long as the electrolytic current remains. Reversing the chemical reaction this way leaves ALL the silver intact - rubbing with abrasives and silver cleaner actually removes silver!
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7 comments:
Hi Denise,
I am so happy that you visited my little blog and left me a comment. I love hearing from people and meeting new friends.
It is so amazing how you, Rachel and Karla met up again on the internet!! I have been visiting Karla's blog and leaving comments here and there for way over a year, long before I started blogging myself. She's always so sweet and always emails me to thank me. Some people don't acknowledge you when you do leave them a comment.
Okay, I'm off now to go back and see all your blog. Please come visit me again.
Hugs,
Hope
What a great idea! I have a set of beautiful silverware that we inherited from Lyle's grandma. Allen and Tim polished it for me last... in, oh... 2002, I b'lieve it was... when everyone was at my house for a mini-vacation. The wooden box it's in keeps it from tarnishing much, but I bet it could stand to use a going over by now. Maybe I'll have the kids do your science experiment.
The above three comments were from a European advertising company - rather annoying since this is a "for fun" blog. At least they wrote in English on my blog - it was something besides French and Spanish on DJ's blog :( !
The above three comments were from a European advertising company - rather annoying since this is a "for fun" blog. At least they wrote in English on my blog - it was something besides French and Spanish on DJ's blog :( !
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