Chemists are artists.
For this project we need to create an art piece using chemistry in some way. My group decided to make copper patinas. Copper patina is tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes. and this can create beautiful colors. We researched different chemical reactions before we start this project.We researched: Double displacement reactions, single replacement reactions, synthesis reactions, decomposition reactions, and combustion reactions. The reaction in our project was 2 synthesis reactions. A synthesis reaction is a reaction in which multiple reactants combine to form a single product.
Our art.
I created this patina with two processes which are salt and ammonia and ferric nitrate. For the salt and ammonia process I sprayed the copper sheet with ammonia and sprinkled generously with salt and wait 24 hours. That created the blue speckles in the background. For the ferric nitrate process i first heated up the copper and then dropped the liquid ferric nitrate onto the hot copper plate. This created the brown/orangish color near the bottom of the copper sheet and the splashes above.
Reflection.
I enjoyed this project. i really liked making art with different mediums than usual. one positive aspect of the project was that i felt like i took charge and lead the team which isn't normal of me.on negative thing was that i think we focused to much on the art and not enough on the chemistry. We spent most of the time researching how to do the art and working on the art itself that we spent little time on the chemistry aspect. another this that was negative was that we were not on task all the time. sometimes we wasted time talking to other groups or eachother.
what i can improve on next time is staying on task, i can do this by not talking to other groups and really focusing.
what i can improve on next time is staying on task, i can do this by not talking to other groups and really focusing.