How does gold plate onto the surface?
The gold plating solution we used to plate the quarter is loaded with an enormous number of gold ions. These gold ions are gold atoms missing one or more electrons, they are formed when metallic gold has been dissolved in a solution, (the gold is oxidized). While in solution these gold ions are invisible – that is why our 24K Pure Gold Solution is water clear. In fact the gold ions remain invisible until they come into contact with the surface that has been charged with excess electrons – the cathode – which is the surface being plated. With the proper voltage potential, (the voltage difference between the charged solution and the surface being plated – usually 2-5 volts), when the gold ions contact the cathode there is a virtually instantaneous “cathode reaction” and the gold ions recover the missing electron(s), (reduction), and the gold returns to it’s metallic state, usually in a cubic crystalline structure. The brightening system in our 24K Brush Gold Solution disrupts the crystal
