WHY IS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY GREEN

A. Hi, Randal. It's green because the copper has corroded, and the simple salts of copper that have formed are blue-green. Please tell us what your science project is and what grade are you in so we can try to help further.

Acid rain is a phenomenon which can adversely affect aquatic life in high mountain lakes that lack buffering from dissolved salts. But it is a very mild "acid" which probably has little to do with the greening of the statue.

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P.S. May 2010: Newer info suggests that acid rain may have a stronger effect on copper than I thought. See reference cited by M Frank on 5/4/10

A. It is green because when it rains the rain makes the copper fade away and that is what is underneath the copper!

Jordyn is incorrect. Don't know if he's pulling a prank or just didn't know. Copper is copper colored (the color of a bright new penny), but it tarnishes into copper oxides and salts which are not the same color as copper. The color it tarnishes depends on the conditions it is exposed to. In normal outdoor exposure, with no handling, the blue-green color is typical.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

A. The statue is green 'cause of chemical weathering. Chemical weathering is dependent on available surface for reaction temperature and presence of chemically active fluid. Which that fluid makes the copper green.

A. The greenish color is a result of the sulfuric acid in the rain reacting with the copper to form copper (II) sulfide.

A. TRY THIS:

Put a DARK penny in a vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and table salt solution.
Then... leave it in the solution over night
It turns green!

Salt (sodium chloride) combines with acetic acid from the vinegar to produce sodium acetate and hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen chloride (a strong acid) in combination with sodium acetate rapidly cleans the surface of the penny. The cleaning process leaves a very pure metal surface. The surface will corrode when exposed to the water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide from the air. The pennies will turn green when left in the solution over long periods because the copper combines with the acetate in the vinegar.

A. The Statue of Liberty is green because of acid rain and the salt water because if you put it in a cup of water with salt and vinegar it will start to make acid.

A. It's pretty simple. The process is called corrosion. Basic copper carbonate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] is green. Usually, we see copper oxide, but then, CuCO₃ is the most basic form. The roofs react with the atmosphere {like the moisture, oxygen, etc}, and hence, the roof gradually gets corroded, and it appears green.

A. It is Green because of the acid that rain produces it also causes the statue of liberty to weather it and chemicals from the rain could cause it to turn a green.

The statue of liberty is green because so many people have urinated on it throughout the years. This has caused it to rust which is green. And none of the workers are brave enough to clean 50 year old pee.eewww:)jking! idk!

A. The lady of liberty is green because when copper reacts with oxygen, it turns green.In the oxidation-reduction reaction, copper atoms lose electrons and forms either copper sulphate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or copper chloride. Dah! I'm only 12

A. Most of the opinions were basically right, Hannah. Whether we call it corrosion or oxidation, it's the same thing. The copper reacted with the air and produced copper salts, which some people called corrosion products or tarnish. When copper is exposed to the air for long periods of time and without anyone handling it like this, that's what happens. And the color of the salts or corrosion products is green. Good luck.

A. Hi, Natashia. If your project is due in a day, unfortunately you started too late. I'd ask the teacher for a one-week extension. You really shouldn't proceed on your project without getting to the library.

You need to start with a hypothesis. I would start with "Acid rain is not responsible for the deterioration of the Statue of Liberty", but your hypothesis can, of course, be the opposite. Then you need to accumulate facts about the historical corrosion of the statue and compare it to the historical rise of acidity in the air. If you cannot make a correlation, my hypothesis is almost surely the correct one, and the project is done. If you can make such a correlation, then you're not done yet because you have to explain away all other possible factors -- that's why my hypothesis is much easier to prove (If it's true, of course. You won't be able to prove it if it's not true). I'm sure a huge amount of research went into studying the corrosion before the big repair of 1986, and I'm confident that some popular books at your library will cover the highlights of that.

After you have your hypothesis, you probably want to run an experiment that helps to demonstrate the truth or incorrectness of your hypothesis. Good luck.

Regards,

But what answer are you seeking which is not already on this page, Clare?

Regards,

A. Green color is a patina from copper made of copper carbonate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and copper hydroxide. Check this for further detail: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_hydroxide

A. Think of a penny. Pennies are copper. If you put water in acid they would turn from red-brown to green. That's all I really know.

A. Actually it is green cuz they painted it green

Hi, Tenika. Please point to a reputable reference because I don't think that's accurate.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 2010

A. The statue didn't one day go from copper to green. It's a slow process over many weeks and months. Although, I admit, that would be pretty interesting (and hilarious) to witness.

"And if you will look on your left, you will see the Sta-OH MY GOD! THE STATUE TURNED GREEN!"

Native copper Cu Red
Cuprite Cu2O Red
Chalcocite Cu2O Dark gray
Chalcopyrite FexCuyS Gold Metallic
Covellite CuS Blue
Bornite Cu5FeS4 63.3 Golden brown to copper red
Brochantite Cu4SO4(OH)6 green hydrated copper sulphate
malachite, Cu2CO3(OH)3 green hydrated copper carbonate
azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 blue hydrated copper carbonate

SLOW Process for change in colours

A. Hi, Iva.

The answer isn't real important. What is important is that you learn to synthesize together the various pieces of what you are learning. See if this rings a bell: Did your teacher recently go over the subject of chemical versus physical change? Review that assignment and you'll have your answer. Good luck.

Regards,

A. It is Green because of the acid that rain produces; it also causes the statue of liberty to weather it, and chemicals from the rain could cause it to turn a green.