My pleasure to greet You here!
It has been years of studying and learning for me, so it may take some time to give you a good understanding of what the electrolysis is, hence, fill your cup and join the ride! This is part one of the series on electroplating and galvanization technique that empowers us at Simply Simon Botanic Jewellery to bring you these electroplated jewelry creations.
Electrolysis is the main process behind what is happening here. It was known at least since XIX century. I suppose, that may be as long as the batteries were around. Interestingly, the battery works by the same principle, but in a reverse way – a chemical reaction takes place and this reaction induces the electrical current. Whereas during electrolysis – a free flowing electrical current induces an electro-chemical reaction! Crazy, right?
As the electricity passes through the liquid – there may be a water splitting reaction, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen gasses. However, if everything is maintained within a certain balanced state – water splitting can be avoided (as well as the formation of a highly combustible hydrogen gas) and a useful electrolysis of metal can take place.
The flowing current, physically speaking, has to do “some job” and that job may be the transfer of metal ions from surface A to surface B. If A is a piece of metal, whereas B is a cute fragile conductive piece of nature – then the metal deposits onto the specimen and, hence, coats it. I still hardly grasp how this may happen in reality! But that is the science and, well, it works!