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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
CLASS - VIII
Subject – CHEMISTRY
Chapter – CHEMICAL EFFECTS OF ELECTRIC CURRENT
TOPIC – Electroplating and Application of Electroplating
LESSON NOTES
ELECTROPLATING:
In electroplating, the word ‘electro’ stands for ‘electric current’ and ‘plating’ means ‘the act of
covering a metal object with a thin layer of coating of a different metal’.
The process of depositing a thin layer of a desired metal over a metal object with the
help of electric current is called Electroplating.
Electroplating is done for:
1) Protection from corrosion 2) For decorative purpose.
For e.g., Bathroom taps made of iron or steel are electroplated with chromium metal to
prevent their corrosion or rusting. It gives a shining appearance to the bathroom taps due to
which they look more attractive.
The metal objects are usually electroplated with chromium, nickel, silver, gold or
copper metals.
When a metal object is electroplated with chromium, it is called Chromium plating.
When a metal object is electroplated with tin, it is called Tin plating.
When a metal object is electroplated with Nickel it is called Nickel plating.
When metal object is electroplated with silver it is called Silver plating.
When a metal object is electroplated with gold it is called Gold plating.
When a metal object is electroplated with copper it is called Copper plating.
The following points should always be remembered while electroplating:
i. The metal object on which electroplating is to be done is made the negative electrode,
which is connected to the negative terminal of the battery.
ii. The metal whose layer is to be deposited is made the positive electrode, which is
connected to the positive terminal of the battery.
iii. A water soluble salt of the metal to be deposited is taken as the electrolyte.
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