Electroplating is hazardous to the environment. Give reasons?

Electroplating is hazardous to the environment:

i. There are some aromatic industries. The wastes that are released from these industries cause air, water, land pollution at a very large scale.

ii. The wastes contain heavy metals like nickel, chromium, mercury, lead etc. which are very harmful to the environment.

iii. For example, Mercury is considered as highly hazardous which effects living beings even at very small concentrations.

iv. Excess copper, however, can cause various intoxications.

v. The release of such heavy metals through electroplating industries can disturb the environment completely.

Additional information:

Electroplating: In this process, electric current is passed through the electrolyte.

i. Two electrodes are dipped in the solution.

ii. Connected with a circuit and a battery.

iii. The electrodes and electrolyte are made from chosen

elements.

iv. On passing electric current, the splitting of electrolyte takes place and some of its parts deposits to one of the electrodes at the top.

v. As a result, one of the electrodes becomes electroplated.

The electroplating is the coating of one metal with

another metal.

Electroplating of silver onto a spoon