Electroplating

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Electroplating

• Electroplating is the process of depositing one
  metal onto another metal.
• Electrons travel from the negative end of the
  battery through the cathode (penny), through the
  solution, up through the anode (zinc), and into
  the positive end of the battery.

• The positively charged zinc ions from the
  solution are attracted to the negatively charged
  cathode.
• These ions attach themselves to the cathode.
• More positively charged zinc ions are pulled off
  the anode to replace the ones now on the cathode.

A regular unplated penny
A similar penny plated in nickel.
Another penny plated in gold
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Electroplating Applications

• Increase Hardness and Durability
• Steel parts like camshafts and crankshafts are
  chrome plated
• Increase Conductivity
• Electric train rails are nickel plated
• Contacts in electrical circuits are gold plated
• Increase Corrosion Resistance
• Iron and galvanized steel are zinc plated
• Enhance
• Jewelry is silver and gold plated

Electroplating Factory
Copper plated Rose
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Electrostatics

• Most atoms are neutral because they have the same
  amount of protons as electrons.
• Some electrons can move freely from one atom to
  another.

• Static electricity is the imbalance of positive
  and negative charges.
• Like charges repel, and opposite charges attract
  each other.
• A common way to move electrons from one place to
  another is to rub two objects together.