Junior Scientist Electroplating Kit  (Multicolor)

Learn about Electroplating. Learn about Electroplating. Electroplating is generally carried out in order to improve the appearance or corrosion resistance of the surface of a metal by electrode positing a thin layer of metal ion on it. The metal substrate to be coated is made by the cathode in an electrolytic cell. All kinds of metals can be plated in this way, including gold, silver, tin, zinc, copper, cadmium, chromium, nickel, platinum, and lead. Electroplating is very similar to electrolysis (using electricity to split up a chemical solution), which is the reverse of the process by which batteries produce electric currents. HOW IT WORKS Electroplating works like a galvanic cell in reverse. An electrical current reduces cations from a solution so that they can coat a conductive material with a thin layer