MODEL RELEASED. Electroplating. Worker watches a rack of objects above an electroplating tank. Electroplating is a process which uses electro- chemical reactions to put a protective metal coat- ing on objects. The objects are placed in a solution which contains the salt of the coating metal, and is connected to a negative electrode. A positive electrode, often made of the coating metal, is also placed in the bath. An electric current is carried between these electrodes by the dissolved salt ions, a process called electro- lysis. The metal ions travel to the electrode, and deposit themselves on it to form a coating. Photo- graphed at Aavid factory, USA.