- To witness the oxidation process that turns copper object green
- To understand how a patina is formed on top of an object
- To understand that copper corrosion is caused by a chemical reaction
Curricular Tie-ins:
This patina workshop is a useful tool to help students to understand the process of copper corrosion by simulating copper oxidation. Understanding the process of corrosion will help students accurately recognize the chemistry of the patina formed on a copper object.
Students will be able to answer the following questions:
- What type of chemical reaction occurs on copper that causes an apple green patina to form?
- Why is understanding this reaction useful in technical art history?
- How can the addition of a patina to the surface change the interpretation of an object?