The "gold penny experiment" seems to be in violation of the laws of physics!!

This experiment is a favorite of chemistry teachers, and there are several videos of the demo online. However, info on how it actually works is nearly impossible to find. In this video, I set out to demystify this awesome reaction once and for all.

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It's funny because I learned a lot of chemistry by doing silly experiments like this when I was younger. However, this was one of the only times I was left more confused than when I started. It wasn't until after getting my chemistry degree that I decided to look into it again, and even then I had trouble finding info! However, I finally came across this great paper that covers the experiment in nearly every way possible: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ed07...

As for why I've been absent on my main channel, I've been in the process of building my new lab and I don't yet have a setup where I can build crazy stuff right now. Most of my tools and parts are packed away in boxes at the moment, and I've been doing construction work nearly nonstop for several months now. The lab is nearly finished though, so a bunch of crazy content will soon be released! Stay tuned!