Posted on 09/10/2023 12:38:42 PM PDT by algore
The Statue of Liberty, with its big torch, blue-green color and fancy hat, is one of the most recognizable landmarks on Earth.
But when it was first constructed as a gift from France in 1885, the statue had not yet acquired this color, doing so later as the result of chemistry. The idea of returning it to its original color is gaining a little attention on X (Twitter). So how has the color been altered over the years?
As a video from the American Chemical Society's YouTube channel Reactions explains, the original color of the Statue of Liberty was a rather magnificent copper.
"In her first few decades in the Big Apple, the statue slowly turned from that shiny copper color to a dull brown and then finally to the blue-green, or as they'd say back in France, 'verdigris', we see today," the American Chemical Society explains in their video.
Over the years, several reactions took place. First, the copper reacted with oxygen in the air. The copper gave up electrons to the oxygen, leading to the mineral cuprite, which is a pinkish red. After that, the cuprite gave up more electrons to oxygen, forming tenorite, which is black, causing the statue to become darker still. But that still isn't green.
The water in the atmosphere, when mixed with sulfur, turns to sulfuric acid. When this was mixed with copper oxides on the statue, it began to turn its distinctive green color. Chloride from the sea spray added to this, making the statue even greener.
The statue has remained this color for over 100 years because the exposed copper is now chemically stable, but underneath that layer, it is still the original bronze.
Man they are getting more and more stupid in New York.
“The patina layer is a protective against corrosion.”
I wish our republic had a similar protection against democracy.
“It’s not easy being green.”
In a few years, when the monkeys take over.
When I visited in 1994 with my young son, we were able to go to the top of the crown observation deck. In the three of four times I have visited in the 2000s, you can only go to the top of the pedestal.
A whole lot of thieves who didn’t know she was made of copper just took notice.
“People” want to see the “TRUE” color? Hmmm, I am thinking RAINBOW and not kidding.
I spent several weeks in New York City in 1984 and remember that the Statue of Liberty was off-limits to the public at that time.
Give ANTIFA time, they just haven’t figured out how to pull it down yet.
I spent several weeks in New York City in 1984 and remember that the Statue of Liberty was off-limits to the public at that time.
They closed it for cleaning and repair. Centennial was ‘86
Time to take it down there is no Liberty left here
Well. For insurance purposes…≥
Don’t have enough money to keep social security solvent though...
10%
Over 100 years to get this patina and a few idiots just wanna wash it away.
Around $3/lb at the scrap yard
Interesting
Bring me your bronze colored ???
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