Zinc plating

[masyn92]

You can use sodium bicarbonate (Baking soda) instead of salt, for anyone without a fume hood or just doesn't want to be around chlorine gas.

[masyn92]

This will produce minute amounts of chlorine gas due to the salt, so I wouldn't recommend doing it indoors.

[coolsciencetech]

@masyn92 i know that now, this video was just posted a long time ago. I'll put an annotation up somewhere on the video :P

[zorba2727]

@masyn92 One could use Espom Salt instead, it doesn't produce chlorine gas

[geniusmma]

panu daw?? pde pong pkitagalog ksi proj po nmin.. hahaha... mraming salamat...

[dotcombatgames]

i use an old electric train reostat, which is great cause i can easily reverse polarity

[LIiutaio]

Que merda !!!

[Jrodsaab]

Wow how long ago did you do that they dont even use that stuff anymore. Ive been doing it for 6 years and we have acid chloride baths and alkali baths and potash and ammonium chloride are used instead of cyanide

[hobomnky]

right now im doing it with 30 volts its fun to watch but lets see how it comes out, its definatly gona be uneven :P

[xpy1000]

I worked in Electroplating for 5 years, a touch of potassium cyanide will help the zinc transfer across. just don't lick your fingers...

[coolsciencetech]

What did you do while you worked in electroplating? And yea i definitely wont lick my fingers

[xpy1000]

Worked for a small company in the UK, Barrel plating line, long time ago now... You can also try a little zinc oxide in the solution but this also raises the sodium hydroxide levels.

[gojkos1]

I tried this procedure and it worked, but my plated metal objects are covered with black sticky substance which is pain to remove.

I found that using NaOH (caustic soda) 30% solution as electrolyte gives much cleaner result.

I also tried HCl and it didn't work.

[coolsciencetech]

That black stuff seems similar to what i got when my solution was too cunductive but mine didn't plate when i did that... i'll have to try that 30% NaOH trick... I have never tried HCL what was the concentration?

[gojkos1]

Well, don't bother trying NaOH. Plating that looked just fine dissapeared after a few days :(

Maybe H2SO4 should work...

[SILVERHORSE347]

Nice video, If some one had larger parts to plate with zinc ,such as brake rotors for a motorcycle. There is a product out there called Zinc Strip, it is used for putting on your roof to prevent moss build up. Ace Hardware has it for around $30 for a 3''X50' piece, should do a number of projects. Also sulpheric acid in a dilutted solution works pretty good also, don't know if it better, but it does work. Remember as with any chemistry wear your safety glasses and long sleeve shirts.

Be safe

[benson0017]

Nice video!

What is the electrolyte?

[coolsciencetech]

the electrolyte is a mix of vinegar, water, a bit of salt and a bit of sugar to improve quality.

[coolsciencetech]

I wouldn't use 4 batteries because sometimes the higher voltage causes it to flake off. also, your solution might be to conductive. try adding some water and try it again.

[zoltan656]

how to plate it whole i used Hydrochloric acid instead of vinegar and dissolved zinc from 4 batteries and it didn't work at all .and when using vinegar layer of zinc fall off immediately when I touch it with finger.

[coolsciencetech]

actually galvanized means that they are coated in zinc but are actually made of steel.

[takuwan199]

Even easier thing to use rather than a sanded down penny is a galvanized nail. They are usually made of zinc 100%. No sanding.

[hyunchoi98]

Great video, but the bubbles aren't hydrogen and oxygen. If it was HHO then it would be water you are butting the coins inside.

[coolsciencetech]

yes the bubbles are HHO because it is splitting the water in the vinegar not the other components of vinegar. thanks for the comment though!

[Bobensen]

As I said, Nice Video Just polish it a bit and you will get a shiney zinc look to it.

[coolsciencetech]

Would appreciate more comments! spread the word arround offer suggestions and help get people interested in science. in the process of making a website

[tproduction1]

kinda a messy setup you have there. dont add any sugar. Its not needed. It works a lot faster with tin/silver solder wire from home depot for soldering pipes.

kev

[coolsciencetech]

you are right the sugar isn't needed but the result is a more shiny. tin silver solder works faster but im not sure it is as corrosion resistant plus the zinc is easier to get.

[Bobensen]

Nice video Im going to eventually make a zinc and aluminum plating video

[coolsciencetech]

i tried aluminum but it didnt work so well for me. let me know how it goes.