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Chemistry Lab help

I'm a chemistry teacher who likes inventing new and interesting labs. One of our senior topics, electrochemistry, uses cell stoichiometry and essentially goes through theoretical electroplating. As a lab, I would like to have the student plate things electrolytically. So far, I've tried copper on iron/steel and zinc on copper (to later heat and make a gold brass) using a power pack, zinc or copper ionic solutions and leads.

Both of these have been somewhat successful, but the result is less than amazing as no doubt some of you have guessed this. I know enough about technical electroplating to know it's not simple to do a good job and in fact there are rules to follow to do it right. I need someone to give me a hand and help me regarding proper preparation, additional chemicals and ideal volt/amp settings. Anyone interested? You'd be doing a tremendous service to education, I assure you!

Tim Oborn
Chemistry Teacher - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2004

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Perhaps the easiest way would be to try either; Look in the local phone book to find a friendly plating shop and contact them, or try the canadian association of metal finishers, they might be able to help or even have an educational support program.

Regards,

Richard Guise
- Lowestoft, U.K.
2004