Upon completion of this lab you should be able to:
Describe the process of electroplating Identify the anode and cathode and what is occurring at each in terms of oxidation and reduction. Identify the products of electroplating. Write balanced half-reactions representing what is happening at each of the electrodes. Predict changes in mass and concentration over time and propose explanations for these changes. Diagram the electroplating system identifying the components the cathode and the anode the positive and negative poles flow of electrons and the flow of ions. Equipment: electric drill with !"!#$ bit % cm s&uare piece of copper sheet mas'ing tape % inch piece of heavy copper wire (bare) single-edge ra*or blade steel wool isopropyl alcohol cotton swabs wood bloc' *inc strip #+, m- bea'er $.$ battery and battery holder"wire leads #., / nitric acid clear acrylic spray paint solution consisting of 0#g of ammonium citrate 1.+g of ammonium chloride and !,g *inc sulfate heptahydrate in !,, m- water Procedure: 0. Put on your goggles and aprons #. 2btain a % cm s&uare piece of copper sheet. !. Polish both sides by rubbing with steel wool. If the copper is heavily oxidi*ed dip the copper in a bea'er of nitric acid for a few minutes. Do this under the fume hood since toxic gases may form. %. 3inse the copper with water and dry it. 4hen polish it with steel wool. 2nce it is polished rinse and dry it with a little water. +. Drill a small hole where you wish the hoo' to be placed. 5. .over both sides of the copper s&uare completely with mas'ing tape. 6e sure the tape overlaps all the edges. 1. 4rim off excess tape. 7. Decide upon a design8 draw it on the mas'ing tape and carefully cut it out using the single-edged ra*or blade. 9. .arefully remove the tape from this area. 0,. .lean the exposed copper surface with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Do not touch this area once cleaned. 00. Insert a 0, cm piece of heavy gauged copper wire through the hole in the copper8 bend it into a hoo' ma'ing sure the wire and copper s&uare ma'e contact. 0#. Put enough *inc plating solution into a #+, m- bea'er so that the design on the ornament will be covered when submerged. 0!. Insert a *inc strip into the plating solution along one side of the bea'er. 6end the *inc over the lip of the bea'er to hold it in place. 0%. .onnect one wire lead from the *inc to the positive terminal of the 0.+ : $.$ battery. 0+. .onnect the other wire lead from the battery;s negative terminal to the copper wire attached to the ornament. 05. Insert the ornament into the *inc plating solution on the opposite side from the *inc strip so the that cut-out design is facing the *inc strip. 01. Periodically remove the ornament to examine the progress of the *inc plating. 07. When the desired effect has been obtained (usually <ust a few seconds) remove the ornament from the solution disconnect the battery and gently rinse the ornament. D2 =24 3U6> 4he *inc will come off if you do so. 09. .arefully remove the tape from the ornament. Pat the ornament dry. ?t this time you can touch up the polished copper using a piece of steel wool. ?void the area that is *inc plated. #,. @ang the ornament from a ring on a ring stand under the fume hood. Place a layer of paper towels on the area underneath. #0. Apray both sides of the ornament with clear acrylic paint. ?void inhalation of the fumes. -et the ornament dry. ##. .lean up. Analysis: 0. Is the copper ornament functioning as the cathode or the anode in this experimentB 4he *inc stripB #. In terms of oxidation"reduction what is occurring at the copper ornamentB 4he *inc stripB !. Write balanced half-reactions representing what is occurring at the copper ornament and the *inc strip. %. If after the battery was connected for a period of time the battery was then disconnected and the copper ornament was removed and weighed how would the mass now compare to before the battery was connectedB WhyB +. In reference to C% how would the mass of the *inc strip have changedB WhyB 5. @ow does the concentration of the *inc ion Dn #E in the solution at the end of the electrolysis compare to its original concentrationB WhyB 1. /a'e a diagram of the electrolysis apparatus labeling all its components. Indicate the cathode the anode the positive and negative poles the flow of electrons through the wires and the flow of ions through the solution. 7. What would happen if the wires were switchedB Fxplain. 9. What are some other examples of items that have been electroplatedB 3eference: Gen -yle Purdue University .hemistry Department formerly of At. Hohn;s Achool @ouston 4I
How Two Boys Made Their Own Electrical Apparatus
Containing Complete Directions for Making All Kinds of Simple Apparatus for the Study of Elementary Electricity