Experiment 32.

Electroplating

Experiment video

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Objective
To design and perform an experiment to electroplate
nickel on a copper foil.

Experiment 32.4

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Background
Electroplating is the process to plate (coat) one metal
with a thin layer of another metal by electrolysis. A
metal is electroplated to protect against corrosion
and /or improve appearance. The process of
electroplating is carried out in an electrolytic cell.

In this investigation, you are going to electroplate

nickel on a copper foil using the materials available in
the school laboratory.

Experiment 32.4

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Apparatus and Chemicals
Each group will need:
Safety spectacles
Chemicals:
Nickel foil
Copper foil
Nickel plating solution (a nickel(II) salt solution)
(Other apparatus and chemicals may be provided if
necessary.)

Experiment 32.4

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Apparatus and Chemicals
Chemical disposal:
Dispose of the wastes into labelled waste bottles
for different kinds of chemicals.

Time required:
2 periods

Experiment 32.4

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Safety precautions
1. You must wear safety spectacles.
2. Seek advice from your teacher for your
experimental design before you start.
3. Handle all chemicals with great care. Avoid direct
contact of chemicals with skin.
4. Dispose of chemical wastes, broken glassware
and excess materials according to your teacher’s
instruction.

Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
In your group, discuss how you will carry out the experiment by
thinking of the following points.
1. In the space provided, write down the apparatus and
chemicals that you will use.
Apparatus:
•Safety spectacles
•6 V d.c. power supply
•3 connecting wires with crocodile clips at both ends
•6 V bulb in holder
•Sandpaper (2 pieces, 5 cm × 5 cm)
•Beaker (100 cm3)
•Forceps (for holding metal foils)
•Electrode foil holder

Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
Apparatus:
•Forceps (placed besides propanone, kept in the fume
cupboard)
•Tissue paper
•Cotton wool

Chemicals:
•Propanone (2 cm3), kept in a beaker
•Nickel foil (5 cm × 2 cm)
•Copper foil (5 cm × 2 cm) / brass key / iron key / 50¢ coin
•Nickel plating solution (an aqueous nickel(II) salt solution),
60 cm3

Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
2. In the space provided, draw clearly a labelled set-up on
how to carry out the electroplating.

6 V cell holder
electrode foil holder

beaker
bulb holder
nickel plating
solution
nickel anode copper cathode

Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
3. In the space provided, write down the step-by-step procedu
re to carry out your experiment.
___________________________________________
(1) (a) Clean a copper foil with sand paper.
___________________________________________
(b) With the help of forceps, wash the foil under running tap
___________________________________________
water.
___________________________________________
(c) Degrease the foil by rubbing it with a piece of cotton
___________________________________________
wool (soaked in propanone) held by forceps.
___________________________________________
(d) With the help of forceps, wash the foil under tap
___________________________________________
water.
___________________________________________
(e) Put the copper foil onto a piece of dry tissue
___________________________________________
paper to keep the foil clean.
___________________________________________

Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
(2) (a) Pour 60 cm3 of the nickel plating solution into a
___________________________________________
beaker.
___________________________________________
(b) Set up the circuit as shown in question 2. The
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
copper is made the cathode (connected to the negative
___________________________________________
terminal of the battery); nickel is made the anode
___________________________________________
(connected to the positive terminal of the battery).
___________________________________________
(c) Allow a current to flow for 10 minutes. When half
___________________________________________
the time has passed, take out the cathode. Reverse
___________________________________________
the sides of the cathode and put it back into the plating
___________________________________________
solution. (This is to ensure even plating.)
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
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Designing experiment
___________________________________________
(3) (a) Remove the cathode when the copper foil is
___________________________________________
newly coated with nickel.
___________________________________________
(b) With the help of forceps, wash it under running tap
___________________________________________
water.
___________________________________________
(c) Dry it on a piece of tissue paper.
___________________________________________
(d) Note the appearance of the electroplated
___________________________________________
copper foil.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
4. What safety precautions, if any, need to be taken in this
experiment? Complete the following risk assessment form
by filling in suitable information.

Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
Risk assessment form
Hazardous Nature
Source(s) of
chemicals of the Safety precautions
information
used or made hazard(s)

Propanone Flammable (a) Make sure the 1. Handbook

container is properly on Safety in
stoppered. Science
(b) Keep away from heat Laboratories
and naked flames. 2. MSDS
3. CLEAPSS
student
safety
sheets

Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
Risk assessment form
Hazardous Nature
Source(s) of
chemicals of the Safety precautions
information
used or made hazard(s)

Nickel plating Harmful (a) Avoid breathing in 1. Handbook

solution their particles. on Safety in
(containing (b) Avoid contact with Science
nickel(II) eyes and skin; if Laboratories
sulphate, accidentally split into 2. MSDS
nickel(II) the eyes or onto the 3. CLEAPSS
chloride) skin, wash the student
affected area with a safety
lot of water. sheets
(c) The laboratory
should be well-
ventilated.
Experiment 32.4

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Designing experiment
Nature
Hazardous chemicals of the Safety Source(s) of
used or made hazard(s precautions information
)
d.c. power supply Electric Do not handle the
shock power supply when 1. Handbook on
the hands, feet or Safety in
bodies are wet or Science
when standing on a Laboratories
wet floor 2. MSDS
3. CLEAPSS
student
safety sheets
Disposal
Dispose ofofthe
residues:
wastes into labelled waste bottles for Prepared by:
different kinds of chemicals.
Remarks: Date:

Experiment 32.4

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Results
5. Record your observations.
A silvery grey coating is electroplated on the copper foil. The
colour of the nickel plating solution does not show any
noticeable change.

Experiment 32.4

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Discussion
6. Explain why the grease on the copper foil should
be removed before electroplating.
The grease will hinder the electroplating of
nickel on the copper foil.
________________________________________
________________________________________

Experiment 32.4

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Discussion
7. Why is it better to use a nickel anode rather than
an inert electrode (e.g. graphite) in this
experiment?
The nickel anode ionizes to form Ni2+(aq) ions,
replacing those removed from the solution at the
________________________________________
cathode. Thus the concentration of the electrolyte
________________________________________
solution can be kept constant at a certain desired
________________________________________
level.
________________________________________
________________________________________

Experiment 32.4

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Conclusion
8. Briefly summarize the findings of the experiment.
The object to be electroplated is made the
cathode of an electrolytic cell. The plating metal
________________________________________
is usually made the anode. The electrolyte
________________________________________
solution is an aqueous solution containing ions
________________________________________
of the plating metal.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

Prepare a written group report. It should be

handed in on _______________.
Experiment 32.4

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Related exercise in textbook
Book 3B
Chapter 32 exercise p.43 Q21

Experiment 32.4

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