Describe the process of electroplating with the help of an activity?
Answers
Answer:
The process of depositing a thin layer of any superior metal over an object of a cheaper metal, with the help of electric current is called electroplating.
For example; deposition of silver on brass or copper objects and that of copper, nickel, chromium etc., on objects made of iron is done by electroplating.
EXPERIMENT:-
The experimental set up for electroplating copper on any object, such as a metallic spoon can be summarised here;
-The object to be electroplated, say iron spoon is made cathode(-ve electrode).
- A thin sheet of pure silver is made anode (+ve electrode).
-An acidified solution of silver cyanide(AgCN) is used as the electrolytic solution.
When electricity is passed through the solution, (AgCN), (Ag+) ions moves towards the anode and get reduced to silver metal. The silver metal gets electroplated on the object,i.e, metallic spoon.
The silver ions (Ag2/4+) moves towards
cathode. Here (Ag2/4+) ions do not get oxidised to Ag2+ ions. These silver ions (Ag2+) ions go into the solution. As a result of this reaction at the anode, concentration of (Ag2+) in the solution is maintained.
Hope it helps
In this process the less reactive metal is coated on more reactive metal by electrolysis is called as electroplating