electroplating

[thebillsfan]

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QUICK study session in the heat of the afternoon...if you electroplate something, lets say gold onto aluminum, you oxidize gold into its ion and then reduce it back to gold at the site of the aluminum. why, then, do you need to consider the reduction potential of aluminum at all?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

perhaps so you make sure the aluminum electrode doesn't get oxidized and eaten away?

 

[thebillsfan]

perhaps so you make sure the aluminum electrode doesn't get oxidized and eaten away?

well when you calculate the voltage required for the electroplating rxn you use the ox potential of gold and the reduction potential of aluminum. i'm sure some reduction of alum occurs but it cant be that much? gold reduction at the cathode is the primary reaction, right? hm

 

[RogueUnicorn]

well when you calculate the voltage required for the electroplating rxn you use the ox potential of gold and the reduction potential of aluminum. i'm sure some reduction of alum occurs but it cant be that much? gold reduction at the cathode is the primary reaction, right? hm

in the question, is aluminum also in the solution?

 

[thebillsfan]

in the question, is aluminum also in the solution?

aluminum metal is (the spoon itself). i dunno about ions. does it make a dif?

 

[wait4me]

since both plating gold onto silver and silver onto gold are unfavorable.... how do you make it so that one happens and not the other?