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WHY IS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY GREEN
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Q. Why is the Statue of Liberty green? I know that she is made of copper and the rain contains acid. Can you help me with more detail for my science project?
Randal [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Saline, Michigan
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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.
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Naked Eggs & Flying Potatoes: |
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It is green because when it rains the rain makes the copper fade away and that is what is underneath the copper!
Jordyn M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
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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.
Tabitha L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Michigan
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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.
+++++ The greenish color is a result of the sulfuric acid in the rain reacting with the copper to form copper (II) sulfide. Jay Carlson- Lincoln, Nebraska ++++++ TRY THIS: - Red Lodge, Montana ++++++ 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. Malcom E [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Mt.Vernon, New York +++++++ -- this entry appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread Hey, school - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada +++++++ It's pretty simple. The process is called corrosion. Basic copper carbonate 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. Nanditha J [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Delhi, New Delhi, India +++++++ 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. Gillian G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Eatonton, Georgia +++++++ i need help. this is for a science paper and I have no idea what it is. student - Daphne, Alabama +++++++ I NEED AN ACCURATE ANSWER! QUICK why is lady liberty green? please make ACCURATE! anna h. PA ANNA H [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Harrisburg Pennsylvania |
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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!
Katelyn [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Palm City, Florida
Don't trust her, Anna :-)
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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Hey;;
can any of you guys tell me how does acid rain effect the Statue of Liberty..and if so how is it restored?&& what is the cost of the restoration
can u tell me please
I need it for my science essay
student - Coney Island, New York
January 1, 2008
I need help big time! I also have a science project due tomorrow! I found some information on this website! A BIG THANKS TO ALL OF U WHO WROTE ON THIS PAGE!
Jingie S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Brooklyn, New York,
March 9, 2008
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 sulfate or copper chloride. Dah! I'm only 12
Kelley S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- New York, New York
March 25, 2008
Hi my name is Hannah and I'm in the third grade,when I asked the question "Why is The Statue of Liberty green?" you gave me a lot of predictions but you didn't tell me which one is right.
Hannah W [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- W. Paducah, Kentucky
March 27, 2008
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.
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Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
May 7, 2008
What are some effects of acid rain on the statue of liberty I have a science project due in a day and I need some help I am a freshman in high school and have no clue what I am doing
Natashia F [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]student - Tea, South Dakota
May 7, 2008
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,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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June 2, 2008
the statue of liberty is BLUE not GREEN.....GOD! TREVER GILLIAN DOGE June 2, 2008 Hi, Trever. I'm a very blue-leaning guy. I'll often say things are blue that my wife says are "obviously green". But even to a blue guy like me, the statue is green, not blue. You must be a blue extremist! A blue radical! Down with blue fascism! :-)
April 15, 2009 Y'all are CrAzY! The Statue of Liberty is neither green and DEFINITELY NOT blue......it's teal :D Patrick C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- New York, New York
My favorite TV commercial --
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April 15, 2009
WHY IS LADY LIBERTY GREEN? HI MY NAME IS CLARE AND I HAVE A HISTORY PAPER DUE NEXT TUESDAY ON LADY LIBERTY AND I'M SUPPOSE TO LIST HOW SHE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS AND I FIGURED THAT THE COLOR WAS THE MOST WELL KNOWN CHANGE AND THE ONLY ONE WE CAN SEE. I'M IN FIFTH GRADE.
CLARE W [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]April 16, 2009
But what answer are you seeking which is not already on this page, Clare?
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
May 14, 2009
Green color is a patina from copper made of Copper carbonate and copper hydroxide. Check this for further detail: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_hydroxide
Fyfi Fendir- Tallahassee, Florida
November 16, 2009
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.
Dezerae C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Holiday Florida
December 1, 2009
stumbled upon this while looking to explain to my fifth-grader "geologists" exactly what acid rain is and how it happens ... Love the exchange about the color of the statue of liberty and the story about the teacher & the color of her teeth! :)
mary b [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
student intern - frederick Maryland
January 2, 2010
Everyone! The statue of liberty is not green because of acid rain. It is mostly because of the salt in the air from the water. It is called oxidation which means the air makes the metal chemically react, making it look green.
Daisy Barry- Levittown, New York
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February 19, 2010 I am very disappointed in reading that most of these students on here are waiting until the last minute to do their work and then expect others to give them the easy way out. D. Galaviz February 19, 2010 I understand, D. Maybe teachers can demand writeups from books as references? To me, the biggest problem with the Internet is that students can find answers to their questions without even vaguely understanding the question. To find an answer in books, you need to understand the question. Regards,
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April 15, 2010
The Statue of Liberty is green/verdigris because it's original copper skin has undergone a process known as patination, due to chemical reactions between metal and water. Copper atoms from the statue mix with the carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,which creates hydroxycarbonate...oxidized copper which turns green.
Martha Cupid-Ansolia- Petit Valley, Port of Spain, Trinidad
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May 4, 2010 Hey Ted and D, M Frank May 4, 2010 Hi, M. Learning is not just accumulating rote facts; students also profit from seeing multiple viewpoints and learning how to judge their usefulness, limitations, and probable validity. For example, I hereby persist with "Acid does cause oxidation!" The meaning of "oxidation" isn't restricted to meaning "combine with oxygen"; it also means "raise the oxidation state". In the following simple equation of acid reacting with iron, the oxidation state of the iron has been raised from zero to +2 by the action of the acid: 2H+Cl- + Fe0 => H02^ + Fe+2Cl-2 Surely you will agree that "reduction" processes exist, and that you can't have reduction without its equal opposite. What do we call the opposite of reduction if not oxidation? Thanks for the great reference on acid rain! Now students can carefully consider your opinions and mine if they wish to, and determine for themselves what they think. I bet that most will find you right and me wrong about acid rain, but you wrong and me right about acids causing oxidation. Regards,
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May 10, 2010
Does anyone know the chemical equation for the oxidization of the Statue of Liberty? Are there any problems with this change of color, like environmentally?
Valerie K [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]school - Chicago, Illinois
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July 16, 2010
ted mooney, you are very helpful. thank you. ashley k [last name deleted for privacy by Editor] July 20, 2010 Thanks, Ashley. We posted your letter to remind cynical readers (a group which sometimes includes me) that kids often do take the time to say thanks. Regards,
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September 6, 2010
actually it is green cuz they painted it green
Tenika C.- Nottingham, England
October 2010
Hi, Tenika. Please point to a reputable reference because I don't think that's accurate.
Regards,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
October 14, 2010
what year did she turn green? I wish we could see her copper but she is pretty!
kelly r [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]just wanting to know - austin, Texas
October 26, 2010
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!"
- Tujunga, California USA
May 21, 2011
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 sulfate
malachite, Cu2CO3(OH)3 green hydrated copper carbonate
azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 blue hydrated copper carbonate
SLOW Process for change in colours
- Toronto, Canada
October 13, 2011
HERE'S MY SCIENCE QUESTION! (ORIGINALLY THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WAS COPPER COLORED. AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO AIR, SHE TURNED GREEEN. WHAT KIND OF CHANGE HAPPENED?) (EXPLAIN)
IVA MORALES- FONTANA / VICTORVILLE california
October 13, 2011
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,
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Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
October 13, 2011
Hi I'm in sixth grade and I'm doing a project about the Statue of Liberty.
I need the specific answer on "Why Is The Statue of Liberty Green".
Please give me the answer A.S.A.P.
(I'm not being rude just so you know)
THANKS WRITE BACK
student - Staten Island