In: Physics
Why can you electroplate using metals like copper or silver but not materials like carbon or oxygen? (Hint: Look up the difference between metals and non-metals.)
ELectroplating is a process to reduce the dissolved metal cations by using electric current. The effect of Electroplating is: It changes chemical, mechanical and physical properties of the material we consider for electroplating.
The chemical change is to protect the material from corrosion by increasing its corrosive resistance.
The Mechanical change is to increase tensile strength and surface hardness.
The Physical change is to change the outward appearance and give it asthectic appearance.
So, for electroplating we always consider metals not non-metals because metals like copper or silver give them asthetic appearance, surface hardness, increases corrosive resistance and also are good conductors of electricity.
Whereas materials like carbon or oxygen cannot protect the original substance from corrosion. Since, non metals are very brittile, they cannot be formed to thinsheets. These nonmetals are available in both solid and liquid form in room temperatures which is difficult to use and they form oxides which are acidic.
Hence, considering all these points, metals are used for electroplating.