Industrial electrolysis and electroplating
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Big idea: industrial electrolysis and electroplating
- Key concept: Systems. Metal ions gain electrons at the cathode to form a coating. The electrode arrangement and electrolyte must suit the metal being deposited.
- Related concepts: Models and evidence. Use a scientific explanation to make predictions, then test it against observations.
- Global context: Scientific and technical innovation. Electroplating improves appearance or resistance to corrosion using a thin metal coating.
What is Electroplating?
- Electroplating coats the surface of one metal with a layer of a different metal using electrolysis.
- The cathode (negative electrode) is the object to be plated.
- The anode (positive electrode) is made of the pure metal that will be plated onto the object.
- The electrolyte is an aqueous solution of a soluble salt of the anode metal (e.g., tin(II) chloride for tin plating).
- At the anode: metal atoms lose electrons (oxidation) and go into solution as ions.
- At the cathode: metal ions gain electrons (reduction) and deposit as metal atoms on the object.
- Example half-equations for tin plating: Anode: Sn(s) → Sn²⁺(aq) + 2e⁻; Cathode: Sn²⁺(aq) + 2e⁻ → Sn(s).
Uses of Electroplating
- To improve appearance – e.g., silver-plating cutlery and jewellery.
- To increase resistance to corrosion – e.g., chromium and nickel plating, galvanising (zinc coating on iron/steel).
- To reduce wear or provide a harder surface.
Electroplating Setup
- The object to be plated must be very clean and free of grease to ensure good adhesion.
- The anode must be the same metal as the plating layer (e.g., silver anode for silver plating).
- The electrolyte must contain ions of the plating metal (e.g., silver nitrate for silver plating).
- The power supply provides direct current; the object is connected to the negative terminal.
Electroplating a strip of iron with tin

Hydrogen Fuel Cells – Basics
- A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy from a fuel into electricity.
- In a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, hydrogen is the fuel and oxygen is the oxidant.
- The only product is water; no pollutants are produced.
- Overall reaction: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O (hydrogen + oxygen → water).
- At the anode: H₂ → 2H⁺ + 2e⁻ (oxidation of hydrogen).
- At the cathode: O₂ + 4H⁺ + 4e⁻ → 2H₂O (reduction of oxygen).
- The electrolyte (e.g., potassium hydroxide solution) allows ion flow between electrodes.
Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell

Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
- No pollutants – only water is produced, unlike petrol engines which emit CO₂, NOₓ, and CO.
- High efficiency – more energy per kilogram than petrol or diesel.
- Renewable – hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity.
Disadvantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
- Hydrogen production – most hydrogen currently comes from fossil fuels (releases CO₂); electrolysis requires large amounts of electricity.
- Storage and safety – hydrogen is highly flammable and requires high-pressure tanks, making storage difficult and expensive.
- Cost and infrastructure – fuel cell materials are expensive; very few hydrogen filling stations exist.
Think like a scientist
- Use teacher-provided electroplating data to compare deposited metal masses at different plating times with the same current.
- Comparison: the electroplating time. Outcome: the mass of metal deposited.
- Control: keep the current and electrolyte composition constant. Explain why this makes the comparison fairer.
- Evidence: Use a consistent method, repeated observations where appropriate and a table with labelled quantities and units. Keep unexpected results and investigate their cause.
- Safety: Practical activities need teacher supervision and an appropriate risk assessment. Use the provided data or simulation where the investigation specifies it.
- Inquiry task: State a testable question, predict the outcome using the science, then explain how your observations would support or challenge the prediction.
Evaluate the science
- Electroplating improves appearance or resistance to corrosion using a thin metal coating.
- A coating's benefit must be weighed against electrical energy use and the treatment of chemical waste.
- Evaluation task: Link your conclusion to evidence, identify a limitation and suggest a specific improvement. Distinguish a measured result from an explanation of its cause.
Slide
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Câu hỏi luyện tập
Xem trước miễn phí — 8 trên 52 câu hỏi. Đăng ký để xem tất cả.
1.What is electroplating?
Easy- ACoating the surface of one metal with a layer of a different metal
- BExtracting metals from their ores using electricity
- CBreaking down a compound using heat
- DA method of sacrificial protection
2.In electroplating, the object to be plated is connected to which electrode?
Easy- AThe negative electrode (cathode)
- BThe positive electrode (anode)
- CThe electrolyte
- DThe power supply
3.What is the product of the reaction in a hydrogen fuel cell?
Easy- AWater
- BHydrogen peroxide
- COxygen
- DCarbon dioxide
4.Which half-equation represents the reaction at the cathode when electroplating an iron spoon with silver?
Medium- AAg⁺ + e⁻ → Ag
- BAg → Ag⁺ + e⁻
- CFe²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Fe
- DFe → Fe²⁺ + 2e⁻
5.Which substance is used as the electrolyte when electroplating an iron spoon with copper?
Easy- AAqueous copper nitrate
- BAqueous iron nitrate
- CCopper rod
- DIron rod
6.In a hydrogen fuel cell, what happens to hydrogen at the anode?
Medium- AHydrogen is oxidised to form H⁺ ions and electrons
- BHydrogen is reduced to form H⁻ ions
- CHydrogen combines with oxygen to form water
- DHydrogen is produced from water
7.Which of the following is a disadvantage of using hydrogen fuel cells in cars?
Easy- AHydrogen is difficult to store safely
- BThe only product is water
- CFuel cells are very quiet
- DHydrogen is a renewable fuel
8.Why does the concentration of metal ions in the electrolyte remain constant during electroplating?
Medium- AMetal ions are removed at the cathode and replenished at the anode at the same rate
- BThe electrolyte is continuously stirred
- CMetal ions are neither produced nor consumed
- DThe power supply is alternating current
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