Electroplating is a process that uses electric
current to
reduce dissolved metal
cations so that they form a coherent metal coating on an
electrode. The term is also used for electrical
oxidation of
anions onto a solid substrate, as in the formation silver chloride on silver wire to make
silver/silver-chloride electrodes. Electroplating is primarily used to change the surface properties of an object (e.g.
abrasion and wear resistance,
corrosion protection,
lubricity, aesthetic qualities, etc.), but may also be used to build up thickness on undersized parts or to form objects by
electroforming.