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Best Electroplating Experiment

2006

1 1/2 Cup Distilled vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links]
10 Pre 1984 Copper Pennies - Use Pre 1950's Pennies For Best Results
Any Type Of Metal To Be Plated
One 9 Volt Battery
1 Foot Solid Copper Wire With Positive And Negative Markings

Wrap + Wire Around Pennies And Place In vinegar/salt/baking soda Solution
Wrap - Wire Around Other Type Of Metal
Mix vinegar/salt/baking soda Together And Place In Glass Container
Connect Wires To Battery Accordingly To Instructions Below

Wire On Pennies Connects To + Positive Terminal
Wire On Other Metal Connects To - Negative Terminal

This Is A Fun And Safe Way To Show Students On How Electroplating Works With Basic Chemical And Electrical Reactions.

Jesse Ditto
Hobbyist - Moline, Illinois, USA

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2006

Thanks, Jesse. Have you actually done this yourself or are you quoting someone's else's experiment, though? Because there is an error and I have a couple of questions and comments.

The pennies have to be attached to the negative because the ions of the metal you are plating onto the pennies are positively charged and you must attract them and reduce them from ions to metallic form. I have found that 9 volts is far too much and always results in burning and smut; I haven't found anything over 1-1/2 volts to work myself. It seems to me that if you add baking soda to vinegar that (in addition to it foaming all over the place) you are neutralizing vinegar whereas you need the vinegar to dissolve the metal. What does the baking soda achieve? Thanks.

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