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Electroplating for kids

I would like a procedure for electroplating pennies for my fifth grade science class... I would like to test the effectiveness of different solutions ...

Donna Polite
DCPS - Washington, DC

You cannot electroplate a metal out of solution until you can first dissolve that metal into solution, and that usually requires strong acids unsuitable for 5th graders. So you have to do the best you can, recognizing that it's not exactly what industry does.

The strongest acid you should use is vinegar ⇦ in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil link] , a pinch of salt, and a pinch of sugar -- but can deposit zinc or copper with this per our FAQ "How Plating Works".

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