Mystery 1 Quiz

How can you make a dull penny shiny again?

• Leave it in salt water
• Wash it with soapy water
• Dip it in vinegar and salt

Three friends are talking about what they think causes shiny pennies to turn dull. Deandre says, “I think they turn dull because they’re exposed to the air over time.” Jamie says, “I think they turn dull because they get dirt on them from being dropped on the ground.” Selina says, “I think there is dull metal inside the penny the entire time.” 
Who do you agree with most?

• I agree with Deandre. The dullness can’t be from dirt, because soap doesn’t clean it off. The dull part is just a layer on the outside, not the entire penny.
• I agree with Jamie. Pennies turn dull because of dirt. Dropping them on the ground makes them dull also.
• I agree with Selina. The dull part of the penny is on the inside.
• I disagree with them all. 

 Why did we dip only one half of each penny into the different liquids in our experiment? 

• If we dipped the whole penny in there it wouldn't work.
• We wanted to be able to see the difference in the penny before and after.

Who were the alchemists? What do you know about them and their work so far?

• The alchemists were like wizards. They made potions, and they wanted to create gold and get rich. 
• The alchemists invented real gold.
• The alchemists found gold during the California Gold Rush.
• The alchemists wrote "The Allure of Gold".

Is gold a soft metal or hard metal?

• Hard
• Soft

Gold is used often in what?

• Currency
• Computers 
• Jewelery
• All of the above

What can be concluded about the earth’s supply of gold?

• Humans have used up nearly all of the earth’s supply of gold.
• Humans have used up half of the earth’s supply of gold.
• Humans have used up little of the earth’s supply of gold.
• The earth’s supply of gold increases gradually from year to year.

The cause of the gold rush was the discovery of gold in California in 1848. What was an effect of the gold rush?

• Thousands of settlers moved west, leading to the growth of cities like San Francisco.
• Thousands of Native Americans started business based on gold and became rich.
• Some farmers started trading their bushels of corn for baskets of tomatoes as part of a barter system.
• Societies in China, South Asia and parts of Africa started using shells as a form of money.

What two things do jewelers have to consider when making jewelry?

• Beauty and value
• Science and elements
• Beauty and science
• Gold and platinum

What is the most likely reason why platinum is more valuable than gold?

• Because it is less rare and easier to acquire than gold.
• Because it is harder than gold and more resistant to wear.
• Because it is a newer metal than gold and was recently discovered.
• Because it is silver-white in color instead of bright yellow like gold.