Abstract: The invention relates to a wetting agent and to its use. The wetting agent comprises a biodegradable surfactant which is present in a solution in water, and allows foam to be formed during the electroplating application. The stability of the foam formed allows retarded release of the hydrogen that is formed during the galvanic application. This wetting agent is stable to degradation and has no effect at all on the electroplating application. The wetting agent of the invention exhibits good biodegradability. The level of consumption of the wetting agent is comparable with using PFOS-containing wetting agents. The wetting agent provides a simple, eco-friendly and time cost-effective alternative to the known PFOS-free wetting agents, with the wetting agent of the invention exerting no effect on the outcome of the electroplating application, by virtue of reduced wetting agent consumption and by virtue of the chemically-inert properties of said wetting agent.