Electroplating on Steel

Electroplating on Steel:

The process of deposition of metal at the surface of other metal through electrolysis is called electroplating.

Tin Plating:

Steel spoon can be tin plated by using acidified tin sulphate as electrolyte. Tin (Sn) metal is used as anode and steel spoon is used as cathode. When current passes through electrolyte tin ions (Sn$^{+2}$) deposits at cathode as tin (Sn) metal. Tin (Sn) electrode is then changes into tin ion (Sn$^{+2}$). Following chemical changes takes place.

Zinc Plating:

The process in which zinc is electrolytically coated at the surface of other base metal is called galvanizing. Potassium zinc cyanide is used as electrolyte to produce zinc ions (Zn$^{+2}$). Zinc (Zn) metal serves as anode and steel object is used as cathode. During electrolysis Zn deposits at cathode and Zinc (Zn) anode is then changes into zinc ion (Zn$^{+2}$). Following reactions occur during zinc electroplating.

Electroplating of Silver:

In this process silver (Ag) is coated electrolytically at the surface of steel or other metal. It is called silver plating. In this process aqueous solution of silver chloride (AgCl) is used as electrolyte to produce silver (Ag$^{+1}$) ions. Silver (Ag) metal is used as anode and steel object like spoon used as cathode. Silver (Ag$^{+1}$) ions are reduced at cathode by accepting electron. Silver anode loses electron and oxidized to silver (Ag$^{+1}$) ion. Following chemical changes takes place.

Chromium Plating:

The process in which chromium (Cr) is coated electrolytically at the surface of other base metal is called chromium plating. Acidified chromium sulphate Cr$_2$(SO$_4$)$_3$ is taken as electrolyte to produce chromium (Cr$^{+3}$) ion. Chromium metal serves as anode and other metal object is used as cathode. Following chemical changes take place in chromium plating.