So, to start off. A current of electricity is passed from an anode, (a positive electrode where negitive ions are discharged and postitive ions are replaced.This is the plating metal.) through the eletrolyte, (conducting medium that moves with the substance via the current.) bringing positive ions from the platingmetal to the cathode. (a negetive electrode where negetive electrons are created and positive electrons are discharged. This is the metal being plated.) It is then joined with negetive electrons created by the cathode and is transformed into a metal coating. This is then coated over the desiered metal, and there ya go! Electroplating! But however, This canb all be explained in the form of a mathmatical formula. And here it is!!
M+1 + ye-1 -> M
Crazy, yes. simple to understand, yes! The M represents the plating metal. In the formlua, the charge is +1. However, this varies depending on whatever metal you choose. The y is the number needed to cancel out the charge on the M, or the charge of the metal. The e-1 is there to represent the electrons. All these combined make the metal coating. And that's that!!!!!!!!!