Why Does Malic & Citric Acid Clean Pennies?
About A part of the citric acid cycle, malic acid is found in most unripe fruits, which then transitions into citric acid when the fruit is ripe. In terms of cleaning pennies, one of the best fruit acids to apply is that of a lemon, which possesses high levels of citric and malic acids. Malic acid can give fruit and other candies a sour taste, and in addition to lemons, is found in high content in green apples. Process Pennies can become discolored because they are made of copper, and over time copper reacts with the air (known as oxidization), and turns dull. The penny itself has not turned color–there is just a thin layer of copper oxide tarnish laying over this layer. When applied to the penny, citric or malic acid dissolves the copper oxide layer, and the results are copper salt and water. For Best Results While citric or fruit acids have the capability of dissolving the copper oxide layer, when combined with a small amount of salt, the penny will be the most clean. Salt is a comp
