Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Electroplating for kids

I would like a procedure for electroplating pennies for my fifth grade science class... I would like to test the effectiveness of different solutions ...

Donna Polite
DCPS - Washington, DC

You cannot electroplate a metal out of solution until you can first dissolve that metal into solution, and that usually requires strong acids unsuitable for 5th graders. So you have to do the best you can, recognizing that it's not exactly what industry does.

The strongest acid you should use is vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , a pinch of salt, and a pinch of sugar -- but can deposit zinc or copper with this per our FAQ "How Plating Works".

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: