Select an ovenproof bowl for the project of making a nickel into gold. Fill it with water.
Measure 1 tablespoon of sodium hydroxide and add it into the water. Add 1 tablespoon per nickel you wish to turn into gold. Be careful not to let the sodium hydroxide touch your skin.
Add 1/3 tablespoon of zinc to the water and sodium hydroxide and stir.
Set a nickel into the ovenproof bowl, and place it into a heated oven until the water boils. Remove the bowl when the nickel changes color. Pour the water from the bowl, and put the nickel on a plate.
Take the nickel from the bowl, and hold it to the flame in the burner with a set of tongs. Your nickel will change to a lovely "gold" coin with Jefferson's face on its face.