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Electroplating

Here are 3 key reasons why a steel can needs to be coated with another metal: 1. Protection from corrosion - Steel is prone to rusting when exposed to moisture in the air or food contents. Coating it provides a protective barrier. 2. Food safety - Some metals like lead can contaminate and make food unsafe for consumption. Coatings like tin or zinc provide a non-toxic barrier. 3. Aesthetics - A coated surface has a shiny, attractive appearance compared to plain steel. This makes packaged food look more appealing to consumers. In choosing a coating metal, factors to consider include: - Resistance to corrosion for the environment - Toxicity - must be food safe

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Shirlyn Hee
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1K views17 pages

Electroplating

Here are 3 key reasons why a steel can needs to be coated with another metal: 1. Protection from corrosion - Steel is prone to rusting when exposed to moisture in the air or food contents. Coating it provides a protective barrier. 2. Food safety - Some metals like lead can contaminate and make food unsafe for consumption. Coatings like tin or zinc provide a non-toxic barrier. 3. Aesthetics - A coated surface has a shiny, attractive appearance compared to plain steel. This makes packaged food look more appealing to consumers. In choosing a coating metal, factors to consider include: - Resistance to corrosion for the environment - Toxicity - must be food safe

Uploaded by

Shirlyn Hee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electroplating

Aims:

• Describe how to electroplate an object


• To be able to decide which electrolyte and
anode and cathode to use
What is Electroplating?
 An electrochemical process where metal ions are transferred from a
solution and are deposited as a thin layer onto surface of a cathode.

 The setup is composed DC circuit with an anode and a cathode sitting


in a bath of solution that has the metal ions necessary for coating or
plating

 Electroplating can enhance;


 Chemical properties---increase corrosion resistance
 Physical properties---increase thickness of part
 Mechanical properties---increase tensile strength and hardness
History

 In 1800 Alessandro Volta created the “voltaic pile”

 Was the first galvanic cell able to produce a stead flow


of electrical current

 Stack of copper and zinc discs separated by cloth


soaked in saline solution (electrolyte)
 Scientists now able to apply constant current electricity to their
experiments

 In 1805, Italian chemist Luigi Brugnatelli, successfully


electroplated silver medals with gold
Electroplating is used to
coat one metal onto another
to make it look better or to
prevent corrosion.
Most metals can be plated.

Common plating metals are gold, nickel

and silver as well as chromium and zinc


 examples of electroplating:

Electroplating Metal Uses

chromium water taps, motorcar, and bicycle parts

tin tin cans


silver-plated sports trophies, plaques,
silver
ornaments, knives and forks
corrosion-resistant layer before
nickel
electroplating with another metal on top
Silver plating could be done in the cell below

•
When electricity is passed through the cell
silver is dissolved at the anode by oxidation.

Ag+ ions go into the silver nitrate solution.


Ag(s) - e-  Ag+(aq)
Silver is deposited onto the
surface of the object by reduction at the cathode.
Ag+(aq) + e-  Ag(s)
As silver ions move from the anode to the cathode
the anode gets smaller as the object becomes silver plated.
This is a redox reaction.
The rate at which the silver ions enter the electrolyte from the
anode is the same as the rate at which the silver ions
leave the electrolyte at the cathode. The concentration of
the silver nitrate solution therefore remains unchanged.
Electroplate a Key with Copper

object (cathode)

-------<-------CuSO4
electroplating with copper
 the electrolyte is CuSO4 solution
 object is made the cathode; copper is made the anode
 at the anode, copper dissolves

Cu(s) Cu2+(aq) + 2e

 at the cathode, Cu2+ ions are discharged as copper metal


and deposited on the object

Cu2+(aq) + 2e Cu(s)

 transfer of copper from anode to the cathode; CuSO4


solution remains unchanged
Nickel plating

• Cathode must be the object


you are plating.
• Anode must the metal you
are using to coat.
• Electrolyte must be a
solution containing the metal
you want to coat.
METAL THAT OBJECT TO BE
WILL BE USED PLATED - Copper
TO COAT - (CATHODE)
Nickel (ANODE)

Ni Ni2+ Ni2+
Nickel ions
Ni2+ accept the
Ni
electrons. They
then coat the
copper
electrode

Electrolyte – must
contain the metal
which needs to be
coated – NiSO4
Oxidation Is Loss of electrons, Reduction Is Gain
Anode

Ni(s)  Ni2+(aq) + 2e-

Cathode

Ni2+(aq) + 2e-  Ni(s)


Many metallic objects can be electroplated
in the same way:

o object is made of cathode

o metal used for electroplating is made the anode

o electrolyte is a solution of ions of the metal


Questions
• In each question decide which would be the
cathode, anode and electrolyte.

1. Coating steel with tin.


2. Coating steel with zinc.
3. Coating a steel coin with copper.
1. Why does a steel can
need to be coated with
another metal?

2. How would you choose


which metal to use?

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