Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Electroplating Zinc onto copper for Gr12 Chemistry Project

2007

We are trying to plate zinc onto copper and have several questions. We are using zinc strips and copper wire provided by the teacher. We need to know what we should use as the electrolyte and what concentration of the electrolyte we should use. Right now we are thinking of using ZnCl at a concentration of 100g/L. Would this work?

As well, since we are testing the effect of current on electroplating, what voltage should we use. You recommended using approx. 1V, but I read elsewhere online that people have noticed increased amount of metal deposited upon the cathode with an increase in voltage.

Finally, what 3 different levels of current should we test?

THanks for all of your help

Steven M.
Student - Guelph, Ontario, Canada

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2007

Hi,
For electroplating zinc onto copper you can use a mix of
100 g/l of epsom salt [affil links] (very easy to get a hold of just go to nearest pharmacy. They should have some. Also very cheap.)
150 g/L of table sugar. (hmm now I realize that when I did it I used salt.. still it worked fine soo.)

For your currents. The easiest currents to test would be 1.5, 3, 9. 1.5 is your best bet though. I used three and got a lot of black substance on my zinc.

I believe that it.

Cameron

P.S. The info I got on this was from this website. "www.finishing.com/faqs/plating.shtml" Thats right thanks a lot finishing.com

Cameron F.
- Cupertino, CA, United States