Effect of Voltage on the Rate of Electroplating a Metal

Effect of Voltage on the Rate of Electroplating a Metal Akinlabi Boluwarinde Oluwatosin BACKGROUND Electroplating is the process of plating one metal onto another by hydrolysis, most commonly for decorative purposes or to prevent corrosion of a metal. There are also specific types of electroplating such as copper plating, silver plating, and chromium plating. Electroplating allows manufacturers to use inexpensive metals such as steel or zinc for the majority of the product and then apply different metals on the outside to account for appearance, protection, and other properties desired for the product. The surface can be a metal or even plastic.[1] RESEARCH QUESTION How does varying the voltage of the circuit affect the rate of electroplating a metal with copper? HYPOTHESIS The voltage of the cell also known as the E.M.F (electromotive force) is known to be the force that drives the current thhrough the circuit. It is expected that by increasing the Voltage the circuit will lead to an increase in the rate of electroplating the metal as more current will flow easily throughout the circuit. VARIABLES Independent Variable The voltage of the circuit Dependent Variable The mass of pure copper electroplated onto the metal Controlled Variable The amount of time allowed for reaction The concentration of the electrolyte solution The metal rod used CONTROL OF VARIABLES The amount of time allowed for reaction to occur will be measured with the use of a stopwatch. The voltage of the circuit will be increased by a fix aed amount of 1.5V to keep the experiment and easily measure a changein rate. The same metal rod will be used throughout the experiment for all trials and of the different voltage. The mass of the metal rod to be used is 7g APPARATUS Cells Low resistance wire Copper solid Electrolyte (copper sulphate solution) Electric Balance Stopwatch Metal rod Voltmeter Beaker METHOD I Setup the circuit as shown in the diagram below. I measured the initial mass of the metal and recorded it.Starting with one cell of 1.5V. I closed the circuit and allowed the reaction to occur for 10 minutes. I removed the electroplated metal and measured its mass and recorded it in the table. I Repeated the experiment increasing the number of cell each time and recorded the mass of the of the electroplated metal each time. SAFTEY PRECAUTIONS There is the risk of electrocution if care is not taken. To avoid this the use of well protected wires is necessary and great care must be taken when carrying out the experiment. DATA COLLECTION Raw Data Voltage /v Mass of metal rod after electrolysis /g  ± 0.1g Trail 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 1.5 7.8 7.9 7.9 3.0 8.9 8.7 8.8 4.5 10.0 9.9 9.9 6.0 11.1 11.2 10.9 Qualitative Observations: The pure copper solid used became faded after it was used in the electrolysis reaction. There was still some residue of copper left on the metal rod after rinsing it. The voltage recorded by the voltmeter was not constant but varried in range that was close to the desired value The mass of the metal rod used is 7g Processed Data Voltage /v Mean Average mass of metal rod after electrolysis /g  ± 0.1g Mass of copper added to rod /g  ± 0.1g 1.5 7.9 0.9 3.0 8.8 1.8 4.5 9.9 2.9 6.0 11.1 4.1 The data has been processed. The mean of the three trials for each voltage has been calculated and represented on the table above as Mean Average mass of metal. Also the mass of copper that was electroplated onto the metal rod was calculated using the equation: Graph 1 Graph 2 CONCLUSION As expected when there was an increase in the voltage flowing in the circuit the mass of copper that was electroplated onto the metal rod increased too. This is because as the voltage increases a larger number of electrons flow from the cell or battery into the anode which causes the formation of copper ions to occur faster and so more ions are attracted to the metal rod (cathode) in the given time. The relationship between mass of copper electroplated and voltage can be seen on both graph 1 and graph 2 above. In graph 1 there is an increase in mass as voltage increases but the graph obtained is a slight curve rather than a straight line which indicates random errors, this could likely be due to the voltage fluctuating in circuit. Graph 2 shows a line of best fit for the graph and it is a straight line graph as expected, the error bars are plotted as well. The line passes through all the error bar ranges but does not touch any of the points on the graph and it does not pass through the origin (0,0), this may be due to systematic errors such as errors in the electric balance when measuring the mass of the metal rod before and after electroplating. The linear correlation is 0.998, which suggest very strong correlation between the two variables. EVALUATION The graph of values obtained was not exactly the same as what was expeted. A straight line graph starting from the origin was the expected graph but the graph ontained after a lin of bestt fit was plotted started from the y-intercept -0.25. This was due to errors in the experiment. Random errors such as the fluctuation of the voltage flowing through the circuit as a result of the chemicl reactions going on in the cell led to some of these errors. The voltmeter showed values that ranged from below to above the value of the voltage required indicating that this variable was not kept constant. The deviations were very little and not too far from the required voltage but were still enough to cause errors. It is also possible that because the same solution was used for all trials not all the copper ions had been electroplated onto the metal rod, this could have altered the concentration of the electrolyte (copper sulphate) leading to more errors as the concentration of the electrolyte als o has an effect on the rate of electroplating. Systematic errors were also present throughout the experiment, errors in measuring the mass of the of the metal rod before and after electroplating and also in measuring the mass of the anhydrous copper sulfate solution. This may have been due to poor caliberation before the experiment was carried out. The copper used may also have not been pure as it is possible that there were impurities in the copper solid used. Finally not all of the copper was rinsed off the metal rod before it was used for the next trial which could have altered the total mass when the mass of the metal after electro plating was measured. Errors in measuring the volume of water to be added to the beaker could also have been present. Systematic errors in the stopwatch used such as the delay in starting when the timer was started. The experiment also depended on human reaction time which is known to less accurate than machines, this will have led to more errors. It is impossible to keep the voltage of the cells constant but the range of values can be reduced by using new cells. The eleectric balance cshould be well caliberated before carring out the experiment and a balance with a higher degree of accuracy and sensitivity (measures to more decimal places) could be used. Before each trial a new electrolyte solution could be used to avoid any changes in concentration during the experiment. The experiment could have been automated using a switch that opened after ten minutes from when it was closed to eliminate the error as a result of dependence on human response time. The experiment could also have been repeated more times to reduce errors and increase accuracy. Also a lager rane of voltages could have been tested to gain more data for better more accurate analysis. [1]  http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_Chemistry/Electrochemistry/Electrolytic_Cells/Electroplating

Fracking: Carbon Dioxide and Natural Gas

April 8, 2012 Dear Senator Greg Ball, The current practice of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) began in America in the late 1990‘s and has been wreaking havoc on the land and the lives of the American people since. In case you are unaware, fracking is the process well diggers use to extract natural gas and oil from the earth. They use pressurized mixture of water, sand, and chemicals to form veins (or fractures) in the rock in order for the natural gas or oil to escape.Although this process is an affective way to produce the natural resources from the earth, there are repercussions that are being ignored by the well companies. For instance, there were several private wells in Dimock, Pennsylvania contaminated with methane caused by the fracking done by Cabot Oil and Gas. The people living off these wells were not able to use their water. Although the gas company denied any kind of fault, they compensated the residents financially and built a new pipeline to bring clean water in. In December, 2011 the EPA sent out letters to the residents telling them their water was safe to drink. But in January of 2012 the EPA retracted its position and told the gas company to immediately take care of the problem. Another problem that has developed due to fracking is pollution around the dig sites. Emissions associated with combustion include nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Another emission problem is the emission produced from the natural gas.Gasses such as methane, ethane and liquid condensate and volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOC’s have been proven to cause birth defects, neurological problems, and cancer. Most recently, in March of 2012, officials in Ohio are blaming the wastewater produced from fracking for a series of recent earthquakes. What my goal would be from you Mr. Ball, is that you would introduce a bill to the senate that would encourage regulation on fracking from the federal level.If the federal government woul d regulate the way fracking is done in America, it could save many lives and help save the environment. Bad drilling techniques, design and execution are some of the reasons the drilling wreaks so much havoc. This is something that could very easily be regulated by inspections of the wells. I also believe that the number of wells being drilled needs to be regulated. In Pennsylvania alone, there are 3,500 wells. This number is too high. Having that number of wells in such s small area, is inviting problems.If the federal government would make some regulations on how many wells per square mile are aloud, it would cut down of a lot of the damage being done. It may also be possible to regulate how far from civilian dwellings a well should be drilled. If the wells were drilled several miles from any home, the chances of it endangering people and animals would decrease. Mr. Ball I appreciate you taking time to read this letter and listening to my concerns. I am confident that you love thi s country as much as I do and will try to put an end to hydraulic fracturing as we know it today. Sincerely,

Superstition in a Taiwanese Family

Final Writing Assignment: Superstitions in my family Talking about superstitions is a common fact in my family, and in ours modern societies. Even the more reasonable person at least once in his life had been superstitious. Even if we are not extreme in this belief; whom had never crossed their fingers or ran away if we see a black cat. We all even unconsciously believe in fate, good or bad luck. Some people are really extreme in their belief of superstitions but I tend to think that is a way for them more easily to accept some facts whenever the science can not explain it.Superstitions are not limited to a particular part of the globe, people, or community. All superstitions exist, in one form or another, and get different degrees of implication. Superstitions are passed on from one generation to another, through habits or religious practices. No doubt that less educated people are more sensitive to these believes because their understanding of the world and sciences are limited. I am however a rational and educated person. I tend to believe more in reason than feeling but I also happen to be superstitious.My superstitions are those ones my family has, and more precisely my mother conveyed to me. Also my country, Taiwan, where I have grown up is full of superstitious beliefs. Superstitions are a real part of the Asian culture. I totally experience it everyday in my proper family. Some examples of common superstitions of my culture are: you have to knock the door when you enter a room in a hotel in order to tell the ghosts that they have to leave. Or do not use your finger to point the moon or you take the risk to get your ears cut.Another, the most common in all over the world as well as in my country is the belief is link to a number for us the number four which pronunciation in Chinese is really close to the word, die. The another is that a black cat crossing your path can affect your luck, something bad will happen to you soon or later. Firstly, I think it is important to know what a superstition is: According to The Oxford Dictionary, superstition is â€Å"excessively credulous belief in and reverence for the supernatural.A widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief. † Now for the really scientific mind this belief can seem totally stupid or wrong. But I tend to think that there is no real rational explanation to this belief, we just follow those superstitions because we may be unconsciously afraid of the consequences in next second if we do not follow. For example, my mother used to tell me since I am a kid that do not whistle during night because hypothetically some ghost could be attract by the sound and follow me home.The elder generation really keeps and respects this kind of belief and we grow up with. Lots of people in Taiwan respect those believe that most of foreigners who do not know it and make the mistake are rapidly warned. Maybe this superstition could seem preposterous but most of people here believe in it, so you tend to believe too. For other example, in my family everybody believes that during the Ghosts month, it is inauspicious to travel, to marry, to swim, or stay late outside at night because they believe that all the ghosts of the universe walk on the earth during that month.So, that is why my mother asks me not to stay out at night because she wants to prevent any possibility that I meet any of this â€Å"unknown but possibly dangerous ghosts. † My country may be full of superstitions but many of them can be mock through scientific experimentation. For example, my mother believes that a woman during her pregnancy cannot use any sharp tool or glue without take the risk that her baby gets some bad after-effects. So does it mean that during all her pregnancy, she cannot use a knife so she cannot eat meat by herself.If we think more reasonably I do not see which does not enter the body can get the baby any consequences. This superstition must have evolved with the science but still in Taiwan that lots of family believe in it and really pay attention to pregnant woman. I ignore from where this superstition comes from but we still scare of the unknown and invisible things. In conclusion, the superstitions had been through centuries brought down from our ancestors. All these superstitions affect people’s life and have been kept and brought forward until now.In Taiwan superstitions are a real part of our customs and traditions. I really think that my family is really affected by these beliefs and divided between tradition and modernity. Eventually though I am a realistic person, I sometime get caught up in my mother's superstitions. I do not believe in superstition but unconsciously, I put myself into these through my youth. These superstitions are more than only simple beliefs they are my culture, and my identity. I would love to know how people of my ge neration and other countries live their proper superstitions.

Essay on The Metamorphosis of Holden in The Catcher in...

The Metamorphosis of Holden in The Catcher in the Rye Without love and guidance, young people often find themselves lost; unsure of what direction their lives are headed. Such is the case with Holden Caulfield, a character from the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Holden is a sixteen-year old boy who has lost his way. Hold has suffered a great loss, the death of his Brother, Allie. Holden is trying to reconcile his emotions since Allies death. While dealing with their own grief, Holdens parents have neglected his needs and have therefore not addressed this with him. Holden goes searching for answers and companionship since his parents are emotionally unavailable. This story takes up†¦show more content†¦He invites her for a cocktail, Cmon join me, why dont ya? Mrs. Morrow suggests that, the club cars most likely closed,(pg.57) but thanked him for the offer. The first thing that Holden tries to do when he gets off of the train, is to try to find someone to call. At this point its very clear that Holden is depressed and lonely. I couldnt think of anyone to call,(pg.59) says Holden. So he hails a cab and strikes up a conversation with the driver, You know those ducks in that lagoon right near Central Park South? That Little Lake? By any chance do you know where they go, the ducks, when it gets all frozen over?(pg.60) The driver brushes him off. Holden invites him for a cocktail as well. Cant do it, Mac, Sorry.(pg.61) The driver responds. Holden persists in questioning people about the ducks. The duck are reflective of Holdens fear of the unknown. Of what happens after we stop being. He needs to be reassured that things are going to be okay. Holden goes on bad dates, meets up with a prostitute, and frequents nightclubs all in his search for love and companionship. Eventually he sneaks into his house to pay a visit to his sister. They talk for a while and Phoebe figures out that Holden has been thrown out of school again. You did get kicked out! 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