AIM:

TO
ANALYSIS
THE METALS
PRESENT IN
COINS
 INDEX

 Introduction
 Apparatus
 Chemicals
 Theory
 Analysis
 Procedure
 Table 1
1,2,5 paisa
 Table 2
Rs 1, 2, 5 coins
 Conclusion

 Precaution
 Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION
Man was always been curious to know the nature of
things around him. He has been continuously exploiting
his surroundings in all possible ways to penetrate deep
into the origin of all the things. He began with
understanding the physical and chemical composition of
various substances. These experiments led him to
understand the nature in better way.

Everybody in his or her daily life come across various

types of coins. When we sell something we get coins
and when we buy something we give coins.

Leonardo-do Vinci once said “Experiments are the

interpreter of nature” Experiments are the surest way to
the confirmation of all processes. Here is an endeavour
to satisfy that curious urge of enquiry. This project tries
to analyse the various metals present in the coins used in
many parts of India, which were used in ancient times as
well as the once which are used in present times.
 APPARATUS

 Test tubes
 Test tube stand
 Test tube holder
 Bunsen burner
 Beakers
 Petri dishes
 Filter paper
 Droppers
 Glass Roads
 Different Types Of Coins
 CHEMICALS
 Dilute HCl
 Conc. HNO3
 Conc HCl
 Dilute HNO3
 Dilute H2SO4
 Potassium Chromate
 PbCl2
 NH4NO3
 K4[Fe(CN)6]
 Solid AlCl3
 COnc NH4Cl
 KCNS
 NaOH
 Fe(CN)6
 THEORY
Alloy: An alloy may be defined as a homogeneous
mixture of two or more metals or a metal and a non-
metal. Example Brass, Bronze, Stainless Steel. There
are two general types of alloy.

 Inter-metallic compounds and interstitials

compounds of metals with a non-metal.
 Solid solution of meta and non –metals in
metals.

SOME ADVANTAGES OF MAKING ALLOY

ARE GIVEN BELOW.

S.No. ADVANTAGES EXAMPLES

1 To increase hardness Alloy of iron with
carbon
2. To reduce corrosion Taking stainless steel
from iron
3. To reduce sensitivity Brass, an alloy of Cu is
more tenacious
4. To get better casting Antimony, added to
lead to make type
metal
5. To lower melting boiling Soldier, an alloy of
point lead iron
6. To modify chemical Amalgams are made
activity for this purpose
 ANALYSIS
The analysis of elements in Indian coins is based upon
the salt analysis scheme of the basic radicals
confirmatory tests of elements involved are as follows:

We can determine the constituent of an unknown alloy

by dissolving it in some simple acid or aquaregia and
the solution, thus obtained can be subjected to usual
qualitative analysis to determine the constituent.

LEAD(Pb2+): To test for “lead” first of all add dil.

HCl to original solution and lead is precipitated as PbCl2
Pb2++2Cl- PbCl2
(White)

The solution of lead chloride given a yellow precipitate

of lead iodine with potassium iodide solution and of
lead chromate with potassium chromate solution.

PbCl2 + 2KI PbI2 + 2KCl

(Yellow ppt.)

PbCl2+K2CrO4 PbCrO4 + 2KCl

(Yellow ppt.)
COPPER (Cu2+): Copper belongs to the second
group and gives black ppt. of CuS when H2S is passed
through original solution plus dil. HCL.

Cu + H2S CuS+ 2H+

(Black ppt.)

Black precipitate of copper sulphide dissolves in 50%

HNO3 acid forming a green solution of copper nitrate.

3Cu+8HNO3 3Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO + 4H2O

(Green Solution)

CONFIRMATORY TEST

Cu(OH)2 + 2NH4NO3 + 2NH4OH

Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2 + 4H2O

(Deep blue)Cu(NO3)2+ 2NH4OH
Cu(OH)2+2NH4NO3
(Black ppt.)

If NaOH is added in excess:

Cu(OH)2 + 2NH4NO3 + 2NH4OH
Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2 + 4H2O
(Deep blue)

 2CuSO4+K4(FeCN6)+2K2SO4
ALUMINIUM (Al3+): Aluminium gives white
ppt. of Al(OH)3 in the IIIrd group. When NH4 along
with NH4CL is added

3Al+3NH4OH Al(OH)3+3NH4
(White gelatinous
ppt.)

Filter and dissolve the ppt. in a little dil. HCL and a drop
of blue litmus paper solution and add to it dil.NH4OH
drop wise. A blue lake is formed. In case, Al (OH)3
absorbs all the colouring matter of the litmus forming a
complex compound called blue lake.

IRON(Fe3+): Iron gives reddish brown ppt. in the

IIIrd group test.

Fe3+ + NH4OH Fe(OH)3+3NH4

(Brown ppt.)

The ppt. of Fe(OH)3is soluble in dil. HCL giving FeCL3

CONFIRMATORY TEST
4FeCl3 + 3K4[Fe(CN)6] Fe4[Fe(CN)6] +12KCl
(Ferric Frrrocyanide)

4 FeCL3 + 6KCNS K3Fe(CNS)6 + 3KCl.

(Pot.Sulphocyanide) (Pot.Feric
Sulphosyanide)

ZINC(Zn2+): If Zn2+ is present then on passing H2S

through the IIIrd group white precipitate is formed.

Zn2+ + H2S ZnS + 2H+

(White ppt.)

Dissolve the ppt. in dil. HCL and boil of H2S

ZnS + 2HCL ZnCL2 + H2S
(i)ZnCL2 + 2NaOH Zn(OH)2 +
2NaCl
(White ppt.)

If NaOH is added in excess:

Zn(OH)2+2NaOH
Zn(ONa)2+2H2O
(Sod. Zincate)

(ii) 2ZnCL2 + K4Fe(CN)6

Zn2Fe(CN6)+4KCl
(Zinc. Ferro cyanide)
MAGNESIUM (Mg2+): To the solution add
NH4OH and (NH4)3 PO4
i.e. Ammonium phosphate in excess. White ppt. of Mg
NH4CL is formed.
Mg(NO3)2 + Na2HPO4 + NH4OH
Mg NH4PO4+2NaNO3+H2O
 PROCEDURE
 PREPARATION OF AQUAREGIA: Took a clear
beaker and put three test tubes of conc. HCL in it.
To this add one test tube of concHNO3 stir it. Thus,
form mixture of aquaregia.
 TAKE THE SMALL BEAKERS: And paste a
white blank slip on these. Put equal amount of
aquaregia in all the beakers and label them
according to the coins to be put into them.
 CLEAN THE COINS: So that no dust is left on
them and dry them. Put them in beakers label for
them. Place three beakers in some safe place and
remain them for two to three days.
 After two days, COINS WERE DISSOLVED and
there was solution in the beakers. Add half beaker
of water in each solution.

Detect the basic radicals step by step in each coin.

Tables are given below showing the observations and
result of qualitative analysis..
TABLE 1

For coins of 1, 2, 5 paisa..

S.N EXPERIMENT OBSERVA INFERENCE
o TION
1. Observe the colour of Silvery Al3+, Zn may
the coin white be present
2. Dissolve them in Gas evolved NO2 may be
aquaregia present.
3. To the O.S. add dil. No ppt of Group 1st is
HCL HCL absent.
4. To the above sol pass No Group 2nd is
H2S precipitate absent
5. To the OS add NH4Cl White Group 3rd
and boil, and then add precipitate may be
NH4OH in excess. formed. present.

6. Confirmatory test:
Dissolve the above
i) ppt. in HCl. To this Blue lake. Al3+
add blue litmus and confirmed.
then add NH4OH drop
wise.
7. To a part of O.S. add No colour. Fe3+ absent.
KCNS.
8. To the 3rd group filtrate Black ppt Group 4
added H2S. If ppt formed. present.
forms pass H2S
through the whole
solution.
9. Dissolve the black ppt Yellow Ni2+may be
in aquaregia. residue. present.
Evaporate to dryness.
Confirmatory Test: Green
Yellow residue+ colour
distilled water.divide solution
in two parts.
i) Part 1+NH4OH+ a few Bright Rose Ni2+confirme
drops of red ppt d
dimethylglyoxime(DM formed
G)
ii) Part 2+NaOH solution Black ppt Ni2+confirme
water and boil forms d
Reduce the group 4 No ppt Group 5
filtrate to its 1/3rd by formed absent.
boiling +NH4OH take
a portion and add
(NH4OH)2CO3
solution+ warm and
allow to stand
TABLE 2
For coins of Rs 5, Rs2 and Rs1..
S.N EXPERIMENT OBSERVA INFERENCE
o TION
1. Observe the colour of Silvery Al3+, Zn may
the coin white be present
2. Dissolve them in Gas evolved NO2 may be
aquaregia present.
3. To the O.S. add dil. No ppt. Group 1st is
HCL absent.
4. To the above solution Black Group 2nd is
pass H2S precipitate present
formed
5. Wash the ppt with Bluish green Cu2+ may be
water + 50% HNO3 present.
and boil.
CONFIRMATORY:
i) Divide the solution in Blue colour
three parts. Cu2+
Part 1 + excess of confirmed
NH3. Chocolate
ii) Part 2 + Acetic acid + brown ppt Cu2+
potassium confirmed
Ferrocynaide
6. To the OS add NH4Cl Reddish Group 3rd
and boil, and then add brown may be
NH4OH in excess. precipitate present.
formed.
6. Confirmatory test:
Ppt + dil HCl dissolve
and divide in 2
portions
i) Portion 1+ pot Prussian Fe3+
ferrocynaide solution blue confirmed.
colouration.
ii) Portion 2+ pot. Blood red Fe3+
sulphocyanide solution colouration confirmed.
8. To the 3rd group filtrate Black ppt Group 4
added H2S. If ppt formed. present.
forms pass H2S
through the whole
solution.
9. Dissolve the black ppt Yellow Ni2+may be
in aquaregia. residue. present.
Evaporate to dryness.

Confirmatory Test: Green

Yellow residue+ colour
distilled water. Divide solution
in two parts.
Part 1+NH4OH+ a few Bright Rose Ni2+confirme
drops of red ppt d
dimethylglyoxime(DM formed
G)
Part 2+NaOH solution Black ppt Ni2+confirme
water and boil forms d
 CONCLUSION
1) The one to five paisa coins contain:

Al3+, Ni2+ ions.

2) The coins of Rs 1, Rs 2, Rs 5 contain:

Cu2+, Fe3+, Ni2+ ions.

 PRECAUTION

1. Handle the apparatus carefully.

2. The solution of aquaregia prepared should be
handled carefully.
3. The colour of the solution made after test should be
observed carefully.
4. The chemicals should be put accurately in the test
tubes.
 BIBLOGRAPHY

www.google.com

www.rbi.org.in/currency/museum/c-rep.html