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Electroplating A Quarter With Copper
Introduction: Electroplating is the process of coating metal onto another object by
electrolysis. Electrolysis is the use of electricity to drive a chemical reaction. An
electrochemical cell is the use of a chemical reaction to create electricity. An
example is a galvanic cell or voltaic cell.
Procedures for Electroplating Copper to a Quarter
1. Obtain a piece of copper metal and a quarter.
2. First clean the quarter in the cleaning solution.
3. Attach the copper metal and the quarter to the alligator clip.
4. The copper metal goes to the positive end of the battery and the quarter goes
to the negative end of the battery.
5. Place the quarter and the copper metal into the copper ion solution.
6. Watch as the quarter gets plated with copper.
7. Do this for as long as you like to plate the quarter.
Label the diagram with the following terms. You have to label both the battery and
the components inside the beaker.
Oxidation Reduction + - Direction of e- Flow Anode Cathode
Post Lab Questions
1. What is the difference between a galvanic cell and an electrolytic cell?
2. Explain how the quarter was coated with copper. I am not asking for your
observation.
3. Explain how the copper will deteriorate over time if we leave it in the beaker for
too long.
5. Write the overall cell reaction for the following oxidation reduction reactions.
Remember to cancel electrons.
a) Zn|Zn+2||Ag+|Ag
b) Al|Al+3||Cu+2|Cu
c) Fe|Fe+2||Co+2|Co
d) Cr|Cr+3||Zn+2|Zn
e) Cr|Cr+3 ||Fe+3|Fe+2
f) Zn|Zn+2||Cu+2|Cu
6. Calculate the cell potential (E0cell) for the reactions above in units of volt. Indicate
if the reaction is spontaneous. Refer to the reduction potential chart in the notes. A
spontaneous reaction is positive.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
7. What two elements can you put together in a reaction to give you the greatest cell
potential? Explain why you chose those two elements. Refer to the chart for
reduction potential in the notes.
Electroplating A Penny With Zinc
Brass is a copper-zinc alloy. An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals. There are
different types of brass. The gamma form of brass contains zinc content greater than
45%. This form of brass is silver in color. The alpha form of brass contains zinc
content less than 35%. This form of brass is gold in color.
1. Research the chemical composition of your penny based on the year. What
elements make up the penny and in what percentage?
2. Brass is a copper and zinc alloy. Explain the difference between gamma brass
and alpha brass.
3. What happened when you heated the silver penny on the hotplate? Based on
what you know about gamma and alpha brass, what do you think happened?
4. What are two practical uses of electroplating? You might have to use the Internet.
5. Between which of the two pairs of elements will a battery be required to drive the
reaction? Provide the reasoning for your answer. Use the chart on reduction
potential to help answer the question.
Al|Al+3||Cu+2|Cu
Cr|Cr+3||Zn+2|Zn
