Aloha, fun & authoritative answers -- no cost, no passwords, no popups
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Student/Educational Electroplating -- Why Sugar?

-----
2006

Hi,

I am a high school science teacher with a chemistry BS. Sadly, all things electrical were not my strong point in college. I tended more towards analytical chemistry.

I do have one question. I was in need of some magnets (I already had the magnets) that were plated in a conductive metal. Your FAQ student directions gave me some excellent options (that turned in to a lesson of their own). I understand the use of the acetic acid [on eBay or Amazon] (vinegar) and the salt to make an electrolyte since it is only 5% acetic acid . But why the sugar? Does it reduce the conductivity enough so that the amount of metal coming out of solution is less than the amount going in? I've tried to look it up in my old college textbooks, but they are less than helpful. Perhaps you can explain?

Jennifer Levenbook
Teacher - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

A. Hi Jennifer,
The principal or theory is that the sugar may act as a plating "brightener". When electroplating, the plated metal tends to grow as a group of rather large crystal stalagmites, resulting in softness, porosity of the plating, and lack of brightness. Certain organic materials (brighteners) will be attracted to the areas where the plating reaction is concentrating, and disrupt the crystal growth -- causing the formation of more and smaller crystals for a denser, harder, brighter, more corrosion resistant plating.

Sugar is not an optimum brightener, and vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon] is such a weak acid that the plating is very thin anyway, so I don't know if the sugar actually does anything in this case--but it's there for the theory and in case a student wants to test whether it does anything.

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

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: