Electroplating Lab

The video begins by showcasing the necessary materials for electroplating: a power supply, alligator clip leads, a beaker, 1 molar copper sulfate in 1 molar sulfuric acid electrolyte solution, steel wool, a 1 cent coin, a copper strip, copper wire, table salt, and 5 molar acetic acid. The initial step involves cleaning the coin using a solution of six grams of table salt and about 30 ml of acetic acid to remove grime and prepare it for plating.

After cleaning, the coin's mass is measured to three decimal places (e.g., 5.425 grams). The next part focuses on setting up the electrolytic cell. This involves preparing a copper strip by polishing it with steel wool to ensure a clean, shiny surface. This copper strip will serve as one electrode.

The coin is prepared to be the second electrode. It is wrapped securely with copper wire, ensuring tight contact for electrical flow, and then suspended from a non-conductive material like a bamboo skewer to prevent it from touching the beaker or the other electrode in the solution. The video emphasizes establishing good electrical connections.

The leads from the power supply are connected to the copper strip and the coin. The video highlights the importance of correctly identifying the positive and negative terminals to ensure copper is plated onto the coin. The power supply is set to deliver an initial voltage, and the current is adjusted to a target range of 0.2 to 0.3 amps.

The electrolyte solution is added to the beaker, submerging the coin and the copper strip. The power source is turned on, and the current is fine-tuned to around 0.28 amps. The process runs for 10 minutes (600 seconds). After the designated time, the coin is removed, revealing a new copper layer, transforming it into a 'copper coin'. The video concludes by mentioning the coin's mass increase after plating.