What is the process called when electricity is used to coat a thin layer of metal onto an object for decoration and to stop rusting and corrosion?

• A. Electroplating
• B. Galvanising
• C. Blacking/Blueing
• D. Machine Processes

Answer: (A)

Electric current is used to deposit a thin layer of metal onto a surface, which is exactly what electroplating does. In this process, the object to be plated acts as the cathode in an electrolytic cell, while the plating metal or its ions in a solution provide the metal source at the anode or within the bath. When current flows, metal ions gain electrons and form a coating on the object's surface. This coating can be chosen for appearance (decorative finishes) and for protection against rust and corrosion, since it acts as a barrier and, depending on the metal, can offer sacrificial protection. The thickness is controllable by adjusting the current and time. This differs from galvanising, which is usually a zinc coating applied by hot dipping; blacking/blueing are oxide-based finishes for color and some corrosion resistance rather than a deposited metal layer; and machine processes is too broad to describe this specific method.