Question

Silver plated vessels and gold plated ornaments are made by ____ method.

Answer 1

When attempting questions like the one given to us above, it is important to keep in mind the different terms and concepts regarding plating, and the various factors which can affect plating and know how plating can be affected and know how to deal with them, and know where to use those concepts.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Process of plating one metal on top of another metal by the method of hydrolysis to prevent corrosion or more popularly for decorative purposes is known as Electroplating. This method uses an electric current to reduce – reduction meaning removal of oxygen or addition of electrons – dissolved metal cations to develop a thin layer of coherent metal coating on the electrode. Usually electroplating is done to modify the surface of the metal for protection from corrosion, for lubricity, abrasion and it can also be to increase or build thickness of the metal or object.
This process uses a cathode and an anode, the metal dissolved from anode is plated on the electrode. The anode is given direct current, and then it oxidizes and dissolves its metal atoms in the electrolyte solution, and at the same time at the cathode the same dissolved metal ions are placed over the electrode and start decreasing from the dissolved electrolyte solution.
In the process of gold plating, basically a thin (or thick, the thickness depends on what kind of object is the desired product) layer of gold is electroplated on metallic jewelry to enhance its features, and increase its decorative purpose.
The gold plating is connected to the anode which is a positively charged electrode and the jeweller to be plated is kept at the cathode which is a negatively charged electrode and both the cathodes are kept in an electrolytic solution and direct current is passed through the solution. The current oxidizes the gold atoms on the anode and dissolves them into the solution from where they stick to the electrode and plate the metallic jewelry.
Similar process is followed for silver plated jewelry.
Hence we can fill the blank in the question as;
Silver plated vessels and gold plated ornaments are made by electroplating method.

Note: There are multiple other uses of electroplating other than plating gold or silver on metals for aesthetic purposes. Electroplating is also used to increase and improve wear resistance of metals, increase thickness of metals, even minimize friction and also improve surface uniformity of metals.