Electroplating

Electroplating

1. Electrolysis is used to electroplate objects

   • For example, to cover a cheaper metal with a more expensive one
     • Like covering cheap jewellery with gold for its aesthetic qualities

2. How it works

   • The negative electrode should be the one that is to be electroplated
     • i.e. cheap jewellery
   • The positive electrode should be the material you want to coat the object with
     • i.e. gold
     • The electrolyte should be a solution of the coating metal, such as its metal nitrate or sulphate
       • i.e. Gold Nitrate
   • For example, the cheap jewellery would act as the negative electrode and the positive electrode would be made of gold, in a electrolyte solution of gold nitrate