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Electroplating (Silver over Copper)(aka Christmas Tree)

  • Page ID
    128805
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    Required Training

    Required PPE

    UC Lab Safety Fundamentals

    Lab coat, safety glasses/goggles,

    nitrile gloves

    Equipment

    Chemicals

    Crystalizing Dish

    130 mL 0.1N AgNO3

    Copper plate (tree)

    Dropper of conc. H2SO4

    Paper towel

    Procedure:

    1. Drop 13 drops of conc. H2SO4 into a large crystalizing dish filled with 130 mL 0.1 N AgNO3.
    2. Gradually placed the flattened copper plate (cut in the outline of a tree) into the solution.
    3. In a short time, the tree will be covered with silver needles.
    4. Gently lift the copper plate out and set it on a paper towel.

    Discussion:

    The standard chemical potential of the reactions involved are listed below:

    Ag+ +  e Ag(s)

    +0.7996

    Cu2+ + 2 e− Cu(s)

    +0.340

    In sum, the balanced reaction is 2 Ag+ + Cu Cu2+ + 2 Ag. As a silver ion pulls an electron off of the crystalizing silver, the silver pulls an electron from the copper metal. For every two silver ions crystalized out, one ion of Cu2+ is formed in solution.

    Hazards:

    Silver nitrate can stain the skin and clothing—please wear all suggested PPE. Concentrated sulfuric acid is a corrosive and should be handled with care. In the event of a spill, consult with the substance’s SDS.

    SOP: clipboard_e86d7dd97121b4feb3e23c2a767bd523a.pngclipboard_ef8753d7cf3b4db2be15d94018585eafd.png

    Acutely Toxic – Silver Nitrate

    Corrosive – Silver Nitrate, Sulfuric Acid

    Oxidizer – Silver Nitrate

    Disposal (by Storeroom):

    Return the solution, in whatever vessel it what provided in, to the dispensary for proper disposal. Please do not dispose of the silver, copper plate, or solution in the general waste stream


    Electroplating (Silver over Copper)(aka Christmas Tree) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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