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Poor results from electroplating experiment

2005

I am doing a project for applied science in grade 9 and we are electroplating, I got the bubbles coming off the piece being plated and I knew it was working but when I lifted it out it was black, so I rubbed it off and the metal had just a slight copper colour and I let this sit overnight in a vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon] and salt solution, I also used a 6v flashlight battery, can you help me?

with the black still on

with the black rubbed off

Michael H [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
student - utopia,ontario, Canada

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Your pics are too low resolution to show the plating, but they do show a good blue color (copper content) in the plating solution. You should be using 1-1/2 volts, not 6 volts, but your results were generally satisfactory. The purpose of this experiment should be only to demonstrate the principle of electroplating, and hopefully even to quantify those chemical principles.

You should not expect heavy, bright, copper plating because that involves a whole bunch of things that are not safe and appropriate for use in high school science class. That's okay.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005