100 POINTS

In electroplating, how should the object that will be plated be connected in the electrolytic cell?
It should be the cathode, where metal atoms are

reduced to metal ions.

It should be the cathode, where metal ions are reduced to metal atoms.

It should be the anode, where metal atoms are oxidized to metal ions.

It should be the anode, where metal ions are oxidized to metal atoms.

Explanation:

Electroplating is also known as electrodeposition.

Electroplating uses an electrolytic cell to deposit a coating of one metal onto another metal.

Setting up a typical electrolytic cell for electroplating:

The object to be plated (coated with a different metal) is made the cathode (negative electrode) by connecting it to the negative terminal of the power supply.

The metal to be plated onto the object is made the anode (positive electrode) by connecting it to the positive terminal of the power supply1.

The electrolyte contains the metallic ions of the metal to be plated onto the object.

The electolyte may be either a liquid (molten salt) or an aqueous solution, but is usually an aqueous solution.

Electrochemical Processes:

At the anode (positive electrode), metal ions are oxidized and enter the electrolyte as mobile ions:

M(s) → M+ + e-

The anode will disintegrate in time as the metal atoms, M(s), are converted to metal ions, M+.

At the cathode (negative electrode), metal ions from the electrolyte are reduced:

M+ + e- → M(s)

Solid metal, M(s), is deposited on the cathode.

The concentration of metal ions, [M+], in the electrolyte should remain constant during this process since just as many cations are being produced at the anode as are being used up at the cathode2.