Plastic water plating involves passing an

electric current through a solution called an electrolyte. This is done by dipping two terminals called electrodes into the

electrolyte and connecting them into a circuit with a battery or other power supply. The electrodes and electrolyte are made

from carefully chosen elements or compounds. When the electricity flows through the circuit they make, the electrolyte splits

up and some of the metal atoms it contains are deposited in a thin layer on top of one of the electrodes—it becomes

electroplated. All kinds of metals can be plated in this way, including gold, silver, tin, zinc, copper, cadmium, chromium,

nickel, platinum, and lead.