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Q&As since 1989


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Science Fair on electroplating

 

Dear Readers,

I am in the 7th grade and like many am doing a science fair project. I am doing it on electroplating but what is a good experiment (problem) I could do it on? Please include instructions and material.

Sincerely,

Brittany B
- Nashville, Tennessee, USA

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The instructions for electroplating projects are on this site, Brittany, they're just not organized like a cookbook. So start with our FAQs, and then tell us what questions remain and we'll try to help.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
 

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Get a lemon or lime, some clear vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon], a long iron nail and a piece of thickish copper wire. Put one end of the iron nail into the lemon or lime and the other in the vinegar. Similarly put one end of the copper wire in the lemon or lime and the other in the vinegar. Leave it for a couple of hours and look at what has happened. One tip, make sure the iron nail is really iron and not stainless or galvanized steel, otherwise it will not work.

When you have done the experiment, report your observations and conclusions on this web site!

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK