Electroplating
• Electroplating is a procedure that uses electrolysis to apply a
thin layer of a metal over the surface of another metal.
In electroplating, the anode is made
up of the metal you want to coat the
surface of another metal with.
There is also a salt solution present of
the anode metal.
While electrolysis is taking place, the
anode metal is oxidized and goes into
solution as positive ions.
Ag(s) → Ag+(aq) + 1e-
The Ag+ (aq) ions in solution travel to
the cathode and are reduced to form AgNO3(aq)
neutral Ag(s) on the surface of the
spoon (cathode);(the metal you wish
to coat).
Ag+ (aq) + 1e- → Ag(s)
Use of electroplating
Electroplating is widely used in various purposes for examples
1.Forms a Protective Barrier: Many types of industrial
electroplating create a barrier on the substrate that protects it
against atmospheric conditions such as corrosion.
2.Enhances Appearance: Jewelry is often plated with a thin layer
of a precious metal to make it more glossy and attractive to
potential buyers.
3.Increases Hardness: Electroplating is sometimes used to make
brittle materials stronger and more durable.
4.Promotes Adhesion: Copper plating is an ideal solution for
providing an undercoating that facilitates adhesion with additional
coatings.
5. Resists Heat: Plating processes such as gold or zinc-nickel are
capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures.
6. Prevent corrosion: The corrosive products normally have a
thin layer of gold, or silver applied so that it has an attractive
appeal to the consumer.
SAMPLE PROBLEM
A knife to be used as an eating utensil is to be
plated with gold, Au.
a) Sketch and label a diagram of the apparatus
used to electroplate the knife with gold.
b) Identify the anode and cathode.
c) Write an equation for the reaction taking place
at the anode and at the cathode and indicate
whether it is oxidation or reduction.
d) What electrolyte is used?
Corrosion
Metal Corrosion
• “the destruction of a material by
chemical or electrochemical reaction to
its environment”
• typically a transfer of electrons from one
metal to another through an Oxidation-
Reduction Reaction.
Steel Corrosion
Initial Oxidation Reaction
2 Fe + O2 + 2 H2 O → 2 Fe ( OH ) 2
Secondary Oxidation Reaction
1
2 Fe(OH ) 2 + O2 + H2 O → 2 Fe(OH ) 3
2
Rust
Acceleration of Corrosion
• Physical Characteristics
– time of exposure (more time, more corrosion)
• Environmental Characteristics
– acidic environment
– sulfur gas environment
– temperature (high temps, more corrosion)
– moisture (oxygenated moisture)
Factors which prevent
corrosion
Barrier or Physical
methods:
Painting or greasing stops
oxygen and water
getting at the
underlying metal. This
is probably the easiest
and cheapest method.
Chemical methods of protection
Cathodic Protection: The metal to be protected is
attached to the negative end of a battery resulting in
a constant flow of electrons to metal thus
preventing corrosion.
Sacrificial Protection: Involves two metals. The
metal higher up in the Electrochemical Series
donates electrons the metal lower down thus
stopping it from corroding. As a result it corrodes
quicker itself than it normally would.
Chemical methods (continued)
• Galvanising:
• This involves dipping the metal in
Zinc.This is good for two reasons as it
acts like a barrier method (with the zinc
coating stopping oxygen and water getting
at the underlying metal). If the metal is
scratched, then sacrificial protection
takes over as the Zinc is higher in the
electrochemical series than the metal it is
coating i.e.. The zinc gives the lower
metal a constant supply of electrons.
Chemical Protection (continued)
• Electroplating: Using electrical methods to
coat the main metal to be protected with a
thin layer of of another. Common examples
are: Gold – plating, Silver- plating and
Chrome – plating.
