Question

Define electroplating. List two uses of this process. Draw a labelled diagram to show how you would electroplate an iron nail with copper.

Answer 1

The process of coating one metal over another with the help of electricity is called electroplating.
The following are the uses of electroplating.

1. To make objects more attractive
2. To prevent an object from rusting

Electroplating an iron nail with copper:

For electroplating an iron nail with copper, we need a copper sulphate solution, a beaker, an iron nail, a copper wire and a battery.
We will make the connections as shown in the figure and wait for some time. On passage of an electric current, the positively charged copper ions from the solution go to the negatively charged nail and get deposited there. After the process of electroplating is over, we will notice a reddish-brown deposit on the iron nail, which is copper. The nail gets coated with copper.