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Electroplating rhodium using rhodium iii chloride hydrate, 99.999%

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I want to electroplate Rhodium iii Chloride hydrate onto aluminum electrodes. We think that we can deposit rhodium onto a metal without using sulphuric acid but just simple purified water. We are going to use platinum anode in our bath. Is it possible do you think? WHAT is the point of using sulphuric acid.

Denis C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
research student at university - Sheffield, England (UK)

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You can only plate an ion out of solution if it is in solution. If a salt is virtually insoluble in water, then there can be virtually no metal ions in solution, so you can't plate them out. If the salt is highly water soluble, and it sounds like it may be in this case, you can reduce the metal onto the cathode with electricity.

That doesn't mean it will be a sound, worthwhile, plated layer. Then again, it won't be anyway if directly deposited onto an aluminum cathode.

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