Fold a paper towel, place it in the bottom of a shallow bowl, and dampen it with tap water.
You want to imitate Liberty's environment--moist with salt spray--so sprinkle a little table salt on the damp towel.
To imitate the acid from urban and industrial air pollution, add a dash of vinegar.
Next, scrape the edges of two pennies until they are clean and shiny.
Strip the paper covering from twist ties, and scrape the wires with a knife or scissors until they are shiny. The wires are iron--like Liberty's ribs.
Wind one piece of iron into a small coil and wrap the other wire tightly around a penny.
Place the wire wrapped penny, the coil of wire, and a bare penny on the moist towel. The copper in the pennies will act like Liberty's copper exterior.
Cover the bowl (clear plastic wrap is best) to duplicate the seaside humidity.
Look in on the experiment every few hours.
Which metal sample corrodes fastest?
Which metal sample corrodes slowest?
Is this a chemical reaction? Explain.
Can you think of any ways to stop the corrosion? Explain.