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"Zinc as electrolyte produces slow results. How can I speed up the process?"

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2005

Hello! I am a Secondary Four student doing a project on electroplating...and I have used vinegar as the electrolyte...however, the process took almost 45 mins. However, when I use copper (II) sulphate solution or dilute hydrochloric acid, the object gets electroplated within 15 mins. Is there any way I can speed up the process of electroplating while still using vinegar as the electrolyte?

Thank you

Puyal
Student - Singapore

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2005

Probably not. Vinegar is a very mild acid and can only hold a very small amount of copper or zinc in solution. You can't plate the metal out of solution any faster than it dissolves in.

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

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2005

Try using a larger container of plating solution so that it will not go low on the zinc in solution as fast. Also , slightly increase the agitation so you get new solution to the cathode faster.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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2005

Vinegar basically contains Acetic Acid. In order to make the electroplating more effective either you need to alter the electrode potential. However, as Mr Ted pointed out, it is a difficult task. you can try heating up the electrolyte and slightly diluting it with HCl.

Manuj Kaushesh
- Solan, H.P, India