1.4.2 Electroplating Electroplating is the coating of an object with a thin layer of a metal by electrolysis. Figure 1.51 shows how an objectcan be electroplated with copper. The electrolyte is copper(ll) sulfate solution. The object is made the cathode and a piece of copper is used as the anode. 1.4.2 At the anode, coppermetalgoes into the solution as copper(ll) ions.