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Electroplating

I am doing a electroplating project for a 6th grade science fair. I'm using a vinegar ⇦ in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil link] , sugar, salt solution.(I'm using zinc for an anode)and just as I was doing trial #7 and #8, I saw this black color start to appear. Is it corrosion?

Thanks,

Gina Biascoechea
- Everett, Washington
2003

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No it's not really corrosion; it's a smut or "burning" caused by trying to plate faster than the limited ions in your plating solution will support. Are you using no more than one 1-1/2 volt battery as we recommend on our FAQs pages?

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2003

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hi my name is Hanna and I am doing a science fair project on electroplating but I have a few problems first I can't find any web sites that tell me how to do it second I don't know what materials to use and third I don't know what a nickel is made of please help me

Hanna Jaskson
student - Ripley, Ohio, USA
February 4, 2009

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Come on now Hanna. On the opening page of this site at 4. is FAQ's and you will find what you need. You need to at least read what is available before you criticize the internet.
Part of your science project is to learn how to do research on a subject, not to have some one hand you a finished project on a silver platter.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
February 7, 2009

Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.

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