Question

During the electroplating of silver, silver nitrate is not used as electrolyte. Explain?

Answer 1

Electroplating is a process of coating the conducting material with a thin layer of metal.

During the electroplating of silver $\left(\mathrm{Ag}\right)$ , the deposition of silver is very quick and is not uniform and smooth. So, silver nitrate $\left({\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\right)$ is not used as an electrolyte in the electroplating of silver.

At anode: $\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)-{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to {\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$

At cathode: ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to \mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$

There are only silver ions moving in the solution.