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Copper Plating
From the Centre for Science Education, and with support from Shell Education services, these materials help children to see how electricity can be used to split the components of a solution (copper sulfate).
Graphite pencils are used for electrodes and the process is called electrolysis. It is commonly used in industry to extract pure metals and to electroplate objects to produce a metallic coating. When an electric current is sent through the copper sulphate solution, copper is deposited on the tip of the pencil.
Teacher guidance gives information on the materials required, scientific context and an outline of the activity.
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Downloads
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Copper plating (activity sheet) 121.98 KB
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Copper plating (teachers' notes) 536.02 KB