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Electroplating Zinc on Copper

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

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