Electrochemistry- Electroplating

Electroplating is a process where electrolysis is used to put a layer of one metal onto the surface of another. It is a process which uses the electrical current to reduce dissolved metal cations so that they form a coherent metal coating on an electrode.

It has many practical applications including the chromium-plating of steel to protect against corrosion, silver plating of nickel to coat cutlery (electro plated nickel silver) and the purification of copper.

The metal which is used to cover an object is positively charged and is therefore connected to the cathode. The 2 metals are placed in a solvent with metal salts which allow the flow of current throughout. The ions are constantly replenished as the rate of plating equals the rate of dissolving at the anode

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