Metal used in electroplating (3)
I believe the answer is:
tin
'metal' is the definition.
(I know that tin is a type of metal)
'in electroplating' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'TIN' is hidden in the letters of 'electroplating'.
'used' is the link.
(Other definitions for tin that I've seen before include "Silvery-white metal used in cans" , "Silver-white metal, used to make cans" , "loaf of bread" , "Element, symbol Sn" , "Silvery white metal" .)