1. Electroplating Aims: Describe how to electroplate an object
To be able to decide which electrolyte and anode and cathode to use

2. Why does a steel can need to be coated with another metal?
How would you choose which metal to use?

3. Nickel Plating Electroplating is used to coat one metal onto another
to make it look better or to
prevent corrosion.
Cathode must be the object you are plating.
Anode must the metal you are using to coat.
Electrolyte must be a solution containing the metal you want to coat.

4. Electrolyte – must contain the metal which needs to be coated – NiSO4
ELECTROPLATING
Electrolyte – must contain the metal which needs to be coated – NiSO4
METAL THAT WILL BE USED TO COAT - Nickel (ANODE)
OBJECT TO BE PLATED - Copper (CATHODE)
Ni2+
Ni2+
Nickel ions accept the electrons. They then coat the copper electrode Ni
Ni2+ Ni

5. Purification: The half reactions
Oxidation Is Loss of electrons, Reduction Is Gain (OILRIG)
Anode (+ve electrode)
Ni(s)  Ni2+(aq) + 2e-
Cathode (-ve electrode)
Ni2+(aq) + 2e-  Ni(s)

6. Questions
In each question decide which would be the cathode, anode and electrolyte.
Coating steel with tin.
Coating steel with zinc.
Coating a steel coin with copper.

7. Oxidation is loss, reduction is gain
OILRIG
Oxidation is loss, reduction is gain
‘OILRIG’
Na+
Na+
Cl-
Cl-
Na+
Na+
Cl-
Cl-
ions LOSING electrons to become atoms is called ‘OXIDATION’
(even though oxygen may not be involved)
+ ions GAINING electrons to become atoms is called ‘REDUCTION’