Electroplating

• electroplating is a process where the surface of one metal is coated with a layer of a different metal.

  • The anode is made from the pure metal you want to coat your object with
  • the cathode is the object to be electroplated.
  • The electrolyte is an aqueous solution of a soluble salt of the pure metal at the anode
• A piece of iron being electroplated with tin. The electrolyte is tin (II) chloride, a water soluble salt of tin

  • at the anode: tin atoms lose electrons to form tin ions in solution: Sn (s) → Sn2+ (aq) + 2e-
  • At the cathode: Tin ions gain electrons to form tin atoms which deposit on the strip of iron metal, coating it with a layer of tin: Sn2+ (aq) + 2e- → Sn (s)

  
• uses of electroplating


  done to

  • make metals more resistant to corrosion or damage eg chromium and nickel plating
  • improve the appearance of metals e.g coating cutlery and jewellery with silver