Question

Explain what you understand by the term electroplating. Why is it useful?

Answer 1

The process of depositing a layer of any desired metal on another material by means of electricity is called electroplating.

Electroplating is a very useful process. It is widely used in industries for coating metal objects with a thin layer of different metals which have some desired properties that the original metal in the object lacks.

For examples:

• Metals like iron which are easily corroded by atmospheric air, moisture, and carbon dioxide are coated with deposits of nickel or chromium (most resistant to such corrosion) by the electroplating method.
• Chromium plating is done on many objects such as car parts, bath taps, kitchen gas burners, bicycle handlebars, wheel rims, etc to protect them from corrosion.