Copper acetate is also known as verdigris, or Vert de Grice, the "green of Greece". The brilliant green color, used for pigmenting paints and dyes, was historically made in vineyards by pouring bad wine that had turned to vinegar over copper plates and waiting. You can make a little copper acetate quickly by throwing tarnished copper pennies, or any tarnished copper, into a jar of white vinegar. The result, after a few hours, is a pale green solution of copper acetate. Or follow the traditional method and get a large harvest of verdigris in about six weeks.
- 2 qts. of white vinegar
- Two-gallon glass jar with lid.
- Used copper tubing or any copper scrap
- Hacksaw
- Newspaper
- Knife
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Instructions
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1
Pour 2 qts. of white vinegar into a two-gallon glass jar. The jars are usually 9 inches in diameter and about 13 inches tall.
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2
Cut used copper tubing, or any copper scrap, into hunks that will fit in the jar, using a hacksaw.
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3
Cover the jar and set it in a sunny place. The verdigris will develop over the next six weeks.
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4
Spread newspaper over a flat surface. Remove the copper from the jar and allow it to dy. Scrape the green powder from the surface of the copper with a knife over the newspaper. Use the green powder as a pigment.
