Electroplating involves the process of coating the surface of one metal with another metal through electrochemical means. Electroplating is often done with the primary purpose of preventing rusting and improving the appearance of the plated object.
During electroplating, objects (mostly metals) are often coated with a layer of another metal by electrolysis. Example, the coating of knives and forks with silver to make it look shiny and stainless, and cheap jewelries are often coated with a layer of gold or silver. Electrolysis is simply the separation of a compound into it chemical parts by passing electric current through it molten a solution of it salt.
In the electrolytic cell, direct current is used to deposit a thin layer of a metal onto the surface of another metal, this is usually achieved by reducing the metal cations(i.e the positive ions) at the cathode(negative electrode) in order to form a solid metal precipitate on it. The metal to be electroplated is often used as the cathode. The anode is the pure metal to be deposited on the object. While the electrolyte is a solution of the soluble salt of the pure metal used as the anode.
How electroplating works
For us to grasp the full concept of electroplating, let's use a practical example of gold coating.
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