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Electroplating Problem

I have another quick question...the page that I got from a book told me to place the copper on cathode and the brass on anode, using vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon], a pinch of epsom salt [affil links], and a pinch of sugar. I put the penny and the zinc in, connected to the battery and let it sit for a while. After about 15 minutes half of the penny was covered in zinc. I figured it would take another 15 minutes for the rest of it to be coated so I took a shower. When I came back the penny was plain. The zinc plating somehow came off I assume, is it because I left it on too long? Do you know what I did wrong? Is there anything I could change to make it better?

Alex L.
student - New Jersey

A. Your reasoning is probably correct, but incomplete. The reason that it deplated is probably because the battery died and quit plating, allowing the plate to dissolve. Try hooking two batteries in parallel for longer battery life. Do not hook it up in series (like a flashlite) or you will have too much voltage and get really bad looking deposit.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2005

A. Have you considered repeating the experiment, but leaving out the step where you took the shower?

Martin Rich
DML - Plymouth, Devon, UK