Request for science fair ideas . . . electroplating?

Hello,

I am an 11th grade student looking for a science fair project. After searching for many hours I came across electroplating. This interests me not only because it involves chemistry but because it has a practical application. I was wondering if you could suggest a "High School Level" experiment. This could include varying the metals, varying the solutions, etc. I have access to my school's chemistry lab to conduct my experiments and can order the necessary chemicals, so technicality is not a problem.

Thanks for your time.

Our FAQs include a very simple zinc plating project and a very simple copper plating project, Adam.

If you have advanced beyond that point, you could try copper or nickel electroforming. With electroforming you could make a part that cannot be made any other way and which would baffle everyone who did not know how you did it. Machine a small aluminum rod or block, then copper or nickel plate it with a very heavy layer of plating, dissolve away the aluminum with caustic soda (under the watchful eyes of your chemistry teacher--this part involves strong chemistry). And you'll be left with a hollow part with no seams or joints.

Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey