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Adsorption
Phenomenon of attracting and retaining molecules of a substance on surface of liquid or
solid resulting in a higher concentration at a surface of solid than in the bulk is called
adsorption. The solid substance on the surface of which, adsorption takes place is called
adsorbent. While the substance which gets adsorbed on the solid surface due to
molecular attractions is called adsorbate.Adsorbent may be solid or liquid but adsorbate
may be a gas or a solute in some solution. It is fast in beginnings but become slow
after some time. It is exothermic e.g. adsorption of water on silica gel.
Adsorption is due to the presence of unbalanced forces, believed to have developed
either during crystallisation of solids or due to presence of unpaired, electrons or free
valencies in solids having dorbital. In liquids it is due to surface tension.
Desorption
It is the reverse of adsorption i.e. removal of adsorbed substance from the surface of
adsorbent. This phenomenon is most common in gases adsorbed on solid.
Absorption
When molecule of a substance are uniformly distributed throughout the body of another
substance at uniform rate is called absorption. e.g. absorption of water by CaCl 2, NH3 in
water.
It is assimilation of molecules into a solid or a liquid substance with the formation of a
solution or a compound.
Sorption
Both adsorption and absorption take place simultaneously.
e.g. dyes get adsorbed as well as absorbed on the cotton fibers.
Difference between adsorption and absorption
Sr. Adsorption Absorption
No.
1 Adsorption is a surface phenomenon. The It is a bulk phenomenon. In
adsorbing substance is called adsorbate and absorption the substance
is only concentrated on the surface of penetrates into the bulk of
adsorbent. the other substance.
2 The rate of adsorption is rapid to start with Absorption occurs at a
and its rate slowly decreases. uniform rate
Heat (Enthalpy) of Adsorption
Adsorption is a surface phenomenon and adsorbate molecules are held to the surface of
adsorbent due to attractive interactions. Since energy is always released during
attractive interactions, adsorption is an exothermic reaction.
The amount of heat evolved when one mole of an adsorbate gets adsorbed on the
surface of an adsorbate is called molar heat (enthalpy) of adsorption.
Adsorption in Terms of Gibbs Helmholtz Equation
Adsorption is an exothermic reaction. Therefore, adsorption is accompanied by release of
energy or H is always negative and favours the process. Also absorbate molecules get
lesser opportunity to move about on the surface of adsorbent. Thus, entropy factor
opposes the process. According to Gibbs Helmholtz equation,
G = H T S
Since adsorption does actually take place, H is greater than T S G is negative. As
the adsorption continues, the difference between the two opposing tendencies becomes
lesser and lesser till they are equal i.e., H = TS or G = 0. At this stage, equilibrium
called adsorption equilibrium gets established and there is no net adsorption taking
place at this stage.
Types of Adsorption
There are two types of adsorption.
a) Physical adsorption (or Vander waals adsorption) or physiosorption.
b) Chemisorption
a) Physical Adsorption:
In this type of adsorption, molecules of adsorbate are being held to the solid
surface by weak attractive forces called Vander Waals adsorption. Adsorption of
gases like hydrogen or oxygen on charcoal is an example of physical adsorption. It
displays the features of physical process such as condensation.
Characteristics of Physical and Chemisorption
Physiosorption Chemisorption
1. Adsorption by weak vanderwaals By chemical force (covalent or ionic bond)
forces.
2. Multimolecular layer may be formed Unimolecular layer will be formed
3. Low heat of adsorption viz. about High heat of adsorption viz. about (200
2040 kJ/mol 400 kJ/mol)
4. Easily reversed Not reversed
5. Molecular state of adsorbate on Molecular state may be different. Surface
adsorbent is same. No surface compounds are found.
compounds are found.
6. Usually occurs rapidly at low It occurs at high temperature initially but
temperature and decreases with then decreases.
increase in temperature.
The quantity 1/n is generally less than one. This indicates that the amount of the gas
adsorbed increases less rapidly than the pressure.
x
P1
m
At the lower values of pressure, the graph is nearly a straight line.
At the equilibrium pressure or the saturation pressure (p s), x/m reaches its maximum
value, i.e., no more adsorption takes place even if the pressure is further increased
x
P0
m
.
1
x
Pn
m
At intermediate pressure
1
x
k Pn
m
Catalysis
Catalyst is a substance which changes the speed of a reaction, and usually, can be
recovered completely unchanged at the end of a reaction. However it may take part in a
reaction consumed in one step and regenerated in another. This phenomenon is known
as Catalysis.
Example: Potassium chlorate, when heated strongly decomposes slowly giving
dioxygen. The decomposition occurs in the temperature range of 653873 K.
2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2
However, when a little of manganese dioxide is added, the decomposition takes place at
a considerably lower temperature range, i.e., 473633 K and also at also at a much
accelerated rate. The added manganese dioxide remains unchanged with respect to its
mass and composition.
A substance is termed a positive catalyst or simply as catalyst if it accelerates the rate of
chemical reaction. On the other hand, the added substance is termed as negative
catalyst if it retards the rate of a chemical reaction.
Example of Positive Catalysts:
(1) Lead chamber process of H2SO4 using catalyst No.
NO
e.g. 2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g)
Mechanism
O2(g) + 2NO(g) 2NO2(g)
SO2 + NO2(g) SO3(g) + NO(g)
MnO
2
(2) 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2
NO
(3) 2CO + O2 2CO2
Pt( s )
(4) H2O2 2H2O + O2
(5) Hydrolysis of ester in acidic medium.
Activity of a catalyst refers to the ability of a catalyst to accelerate chemical reaction.
e.g. Pt acts as a catalyst in the reaction.
platinum
H2(g) + 1/2O2(g) H2O(l)
Contact process of H2SO4, Where V2O5(s) is used to convert SO2 to SO3.
Example of Negative Catalysts:
i) H2SO4 or acetanilide in the decomposition of H 2O2.
ii) Alcohol in the oxidation of chloroform leading to the formation of phosgene.
iii) Tertraethyllead or nickel carbonyl acting as antiknock material in internal
combustion engines.
iv) Antifreezes like glycerol which retard the rusting of the machines.
Activation Energy in Catalysed Reaction
A catalyst generally increases the rate of reaction. Its
behaviour can be explained on the basis of activation
energy. According to this concept, a catalyst taking
part in a reaction is in a position to lower the height of
the energy barrier for the reaction. In fact, the
reaction is supposed to follow an alternate path in the
presence of catalyst. As a result, the amount of
activation energy for the catalysed reaction decreases
and the height of the energy barrier gets lowered.
This results in increasing the reaction rate or reaction
velocity. In a reversible reaction, a catalyst lowers the
height of the barrier for both the forward and the
backward reactions to the same extent. Therefore,
equilibrium point is not distributed, though the
equilibrium is reached earlier.
Catalytic Promoters
There are certain substances which when added only in small quantity to a catalyst
enhance its activity. This substance itself may not be catalyst. Such substances which
enhance the activity of a catalyst are called catalytic promoters. E.g. Molybdenum is
used as Promoter for Fe catalyst in Habers process.
Catalytic Inhibitors
The rates of some reactions are reduced considerably by the presence of small amounts
of other substances called inhibitors. For example, the oxidation of sodium sulphide
by oxygen gas is inhibited by small amounts of alcohol, aniline and benzaldehyde. Thus,
inhibitor is a substance which when added during the preparation of a catalyst in small
amounts, reduces the catalytic activity to a considerable extent.
The substance whose presence decreases or destroy the activity of a catalyst are called
poison. CO or H2S in hydrogen gas acts as a poison for Fe catalyst in Haber process.
As2O3 acts as a poison for Ptasbestos in contact process for H2SO4.
Theories of Catalysis
Intermediate Compound Formation Theory
This theory explains homogeneous catalysis mainly.
According to this theory, the catalyst combines with one of the reactants to give an
intermediate compound. This compound intermediately reacts with the other reactants
and given the product and regenerates the catalyst in its original form.
Thus the reactants do not directly combine with each other, instead they react through
the catalyst which provides an alternative pathway which involves lesser energy of
activation.
For example, the function of nitric oxide [NO] as a catalyst in the formation of SO 3 is
explained as follows:
2NO + O2 2NO2
Catalyst Reactant Intermediate
Adsorption Theory:
This theory explains the heterogeneous catalysis. The role of a solid catalyst in
enhancing the reaction rate is explained on the basis of this theory in the following steps:
(i) The reactant molecules are adsorbed on the surface of the catalyst at adjacent
point. Adsorption leads to higher concentration of the adsorbed reactant on the
surface of a catalyst.
(ii) As adsorption is an exothermic process, the heat of adsorption provides the
necessary activation energy for the chemical reaction to proceed and enhance rate
of greater.
(iii) The product molecules rapidly leave the catalyst surface to make room for the
other reactant molecules to get adsorbed. Thus the chemical combination between
reactant molecules occurs at the surface of the catalyst at a must faster rate.
e.g. Hydrogenation of ethane in presence of Ni
H H + 2M 2M H
C2H4 + 2M H C2H6 + 2M
Catalyst surface
having free valencies
Desorption of product O O O A
O O O molecules |
+A-B
O O O B
Product
O O O
Intermedaite
Catalyst
Types of Catalysis
Broadly, two types of catalysis are known:
(a) Homogeneous catalysis (b) Heterogeneous catalysis
(a) Homogeneous catalysis
If the catalyst is present in the same phase as the reactants, it is called a
homogeneous catalyst and this type of catalysis is called homogeneous catalysis.
i) Catalytic decomposition of ozone by chlorine atoms in the gas phase.
O3 O Cl 2O 2
2CO(g) O 2 (g) NO
2CO2 (g)
Lead chamber process of H 2SO4 using catalyst NO (all reactant and products are
gases)
ii) Oxidation of sulphur dioxide into sulphur trioxide with dioxygen in the presence of
oxides of nitrogen as the catalyst in the lead chamber process.
2SO 2 (g) O 2 (g) NO
( g ) 2SO 3 (g)
b) Heterogeneous catalysis:
In this type of catalysis the catalyst is present in a difference phase than that of the
reactants. In heterogeneous catalysis, catalyst is generally a solid and the reactants
are generally gases but sometimes liquid reactants are also used. It is also known
as surface catalysis. Many reactions that occur on a metal surface such as the
decomposition of Hl on gold and the decomposition of N 2O on platinum, are zero
order because the rate determining step occurs on the surface itself.
Thus, despite an enormous surface area, once the reactant gas covers the surface,
increasing the reactant concentration cannot increase the rate.
The petroleum, plastics and food industries frequently use catalytic hydrogenation.
The catalyzed reaction is believed to take place through the following consecutive
steps.
i) Chemical adsorption of reactants (C2H4, H2) onto the surface of metals.
ii) H2 splits into H atoms which get chemically bound to the solid catalyst i.e. metal
atom
(M) HH(g) + 2M(s) 2M H
iii) The H atoms migrate over the surface of the metal and eventually collide with an
adsorbed C2H4 molecule and the reaction takes place.
C2H4(g) + 2M H C2H6(g) + 2M(s)
iv) Synthesis of methyl alcohol (CH3OH) from CO and H2 using a mixture of copper, ZnO
and Cr2O3 as catalyst.
Cu Cr 2 O 3
, ZnO
CO(g) + 2H2(g) CH3OH(l)
v) Manufacture of ammonia from N2 and H2 by Habers process using iron as catalyst.
Fe
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
Important feature of solid catalysts
(a) Activity
It is ability of a catalyst to catalyse a process. The activity of a catalyst depends
upon the strength of chemisorption to a large extent. The reactants must get
adsorbed reasonably strongly on to the catalyst to become active. However, they
must not get adsorbed so strongly that they are immobilized and other reactants
are left with no space on the catalysts surface for adsorption. It has been found
that for hydrogenation reaction, the catalytic activity increases from Group 5 to
Group 11 metals with maximum activity being shown by group 79 elements of the
periodic table.
2H 2 (g) O 2 (g) Pt 2H 2O()
(b) Selectivity
The selectivity of a catalyst is its ability to direct a reaction to yield a particular
product. For example, starting with H 2 and CO using different catalysts we get
different products.
Ni
i) CO(g) + 2H2(g) CH4(g) + H2O(g)
Cu / ZnO Cr2 O 3
ii) CO(g) + 2H2(g) CH3OH(g)
Cu
iii) CO(g) + H2(g) HCHO (g)
Hydrogenation of alkyne with Ni + H 2 or Lindlar catalyst give different product.
Action of a catalyst is highly specific (selective) in nature i.e., a given substance can
act as a catalyst only a in a particular reaction and not for all the reactions. It
means a substance which acts as a catalyst in one reaction may fail to catalyse
other reaction i.e., a catalyst is highly selective in nature.
The RCOO ions are, therefore, present on the surface with their COO groups in water
and the hydrocarbon chains R staying away from it and remain at the surface. But at
critical micelle concentration, the anions are pulled into the bulk of the solution and
aggregate to form a spherical shape with their hydrocarbon chains pointing towards the
centre of the sphere with COO part remaining outward on the surface of the sphere. An
aggregate thus formed is known as ionic micelle. These micelles may contains as
many as 100 such ions.
SO 3 Na ,
Similarly, in case of detergents. e.g., sodium laurylsulphate, CH 3(CH2)11 O the
OSO3
polar group is along with the long hydrocarbon chain. Hence, the mechanism of
micelle formation here also is same as that of soaps.
Note: The soaps and detergents form micelles in water only because of the presence of
charge on their molecules. Micelles formation does not occur in solvent like ethyl alcohol
since it is not as polar as soaps. That is why only water is used for the washing of dirty
clothes.
(a) Dispersion methods in which large macrosized particles are broken down to
colloidal size.
Colloidal graphite (a lubricant) and printing ink are made by this method. Tannin is used
as a stabilizer in the preparation of colloidal graphite and gum Arabic in lampblack
colloidal solution (Indian ink)
Note:
(i) This method is not suitable when the dispersion medium is an organic liquid as
considerable charring occurs.
(ii) This method comprises both dispersion and condensation.
3. Peptization
The dispersion of a freshly precipitated material into
colloidal solution by the action of an electrolyte in
solution is termed peptization,the electrolyte used
is called a peptizing agent. During Peptization, the
precipitate adsorbs one of the ions of the electrolyte
on its surface. This causes the development of
positive or negative charge on precipitates, which
ultimately break up into smaller particles of the size
of a colloid.
Few examples of sols obtained by peptization are:
(i) Freshly prepared ferric hydroxide on treatment with a small amount of ferric
chloride solution at once forms, a dark raddish brown solution. Ferric
chloride acts as a peptizing agent.
(ii) Freshly precipitated silver chloride can be converted into a colloidal solution
by adding a small amount of hydrochloric acid or AgNO 3
(iii) Cadmium sulphide can be peptized with the help of hydrogen sulphide. H 2S
is used as peptizing agent for most of the sulphide sol.
4 Hydrolysis
Colloidal solutions of some salts can be prepared by hydrolysis. A colloidal solution
of ferric hydroxide is obtained by boiling a dilute solution of ferric chloride.
FeCl3 + 3 H2O Fe(OH)3 + 3HCl
red sol.
The colloidal solutions of silicic acid is also obtained by hydrolysis of dilute solution
of sodium silicate with 4N hydrochloric acid which is added drop by drop with
constant stirring.
Purification of Colloidal Solutions
Colloidal solutions prepared by above methods generally contain excessive amount of
electrolytes and some other impurities. The purification of colloidal solution is carried out
by the following methods:
Dialysis:
Animal membranes (bladder) or those made of
parchment paper and cellophane sheet have very
fine pores. These process permit ions or very
small molecules to pass through but not large
colloidal particles. Dialysis is a process of
removing a dissolved substance (impurities) from
a colloidal solution by means of diffusions through
semipermiable which is a bag of suitable
membrane containing colloidal solution to be
purified, placed in a vessel (or continuous flow of
water). The ions or molecules of impurities diffuse
through membrane and get dissolved in outer
water and pure colloidal solution is left in the bag.
Blood is a colloidal solution and is purified by
dialysis.
The process of dialysis is a slow process. It can be
made faster by applying an electric field. Two
electrodes are placed in water outside the
membrane bag containing the colloidal solution.
When potential difference is applied across the
membrane, ions in the solution move faster
towards opposite electrode. This process is called
electrodialysis. The colloidal solution is placed in
a bag of suitable membrane while pure water is
taken outside. Electrodes are fitted in the
compartment as shown in figure. The ions present
in the colloidal solution migrate out towards the
oppositely charged electrodes.
Ultrafiltration: Ultrafiltration is the process of separating colloidal particles from
the solvent and soluble solute in the colloidal solution by especially prepared
filters, which are permeable to all substances except colloidal particles. Such filter
are called ultrafilters. e.g. a cellophane membrane. Colloidal particles can pass
through ordinary filter paper because the pores are too large. However, the pores
of filter paper can be reduced in size by impregnating with colloidion solution to
stop the flow of colloidal particles. The usual colloidion is a 4 % solution of
nitrocellulose in a mixture of alcohol and ether. An ultrafilter paper may be
prepared by soaking the filter paper in a colloidal solution, hardening by
formaldehyde and then finally drying it.
Ultrafiltration is a slow process. To speed up the process, pressure or suction is
used. The colloidal particles are left on the ultrafilter in the form of slime. This
slime may be stirred into fresh medium to get a pure sol.
Ultracentrifugation: In this method, the impure sol is taken in a tube which is
placed in an ultracentrifuge. In this machine, the tube is rotated at a very high
speed. As a result, the colloidal particles settle down at the bottom of the tube
whereas the crystalloids and other soluble impurities remain in the solution. This
solution is decanted off and the colloid particles are remixed with the dispersion
medium to give the pure colloidal sol.
Properties of Colloidal Solution
Heterogeneous:
Colloidal particles in a solution differ in sizes and are not homogeneously
distributed throughout the solution.
Visibility:
Colloidal particles cannot be seen with naked eyes or with the help of microscope.
It is a well known fact. No particle is visible if its diameter is less than half the
wavelength of light used. The visible light has greater wavelength than the size of
colloidal particle.
Colour:
The colour of hydrophobic sol depends on the wavelength of the light scattered by
the dispersed particles. The wavelength of the scattered light again depends on
the size and the nature of particles. The colour of colloidal solution also changes
with the manner in which the observer receives the light.
For example, a mixture of milk and water appears blue when viewed by reflected
light and red when viewed by the transmitted light. Finest gold sol is red in colour,
as the size of particles increases, it appears purple, then blue and finally golden.
When light emitted by the setting sun passes through the blanket of dust, the blue
part of the light is scattered away from out eyes and at the same time the red
colour is seen. This sun appears red while setting.
Colour of Ag Particle
Sol diameter
Orange Yellow 6 105 mm
Orange Red 9 105 mm
Purple 13 105 mm
Violet 15 105 mm
Colligative Properties
These properties depend on the number of solute particles in solution. In case of
colloidal solutions, colloidal particles are the aggregates of many ions or smaller
molecules and when compared to true solutions or normal solutions, the total
number of particles of solute in solution are very less and hence these solutions
exhibit colligative properties to lesser extent.
Optical Properties: Tyndalll effect
Sols exhibit Tyndall effect. When a beam of light is passed through a sol and viewed
at right angles.
The path of the light shows up a hazy beam of cone. This was first observed by Farraday
and later by Tyndall and is known as Tyndall effect. It may be defined as the scattering
of light by the colloidal particles in a colloidal sol. The bright cone of the light is called
Tyndall cone. The Tyndall effect is due to the fact that the colloidal particles absorb
light and scatter it in all colloidal dispersion. The phenomenon is also observed when a
beam of light is projected in a cinema hall and it become visible due to the scattering
by colloidal dust particles in the air of the room.
Tyndall effect is observed only when the following two conditions are satisfied
(i) The diameter of the dispersed particles is not much smaller than the wavelength of
light used.
(ii) The refractive index of dispersed phase & the dispersion medium differ greatly in
magnitude.
Some example of Tyndall effect are:
(i) Blue colour of sky and sea water.
(ii) Visibility of tails of comets.
(iii) Twinkling of stars.
The importance of this effect lies in the fact that it has helped to confirm the
heterogeneous nature of the colloidal solutions and is used to distinguish between a
colloidal and true solution.
Zsigmondy, in 1903, used Tyndall effect to set up an apparatus known as ultramicro
scope. An intense beam of light is focused on the colloidal solution contained in a glass
vessel. the focus of the light is then observed with a microscope at right angles to the
beam. Individual colloidal particles appear as bright starts against a dark background.
Ultra microscope does not render the actual colloidal particle visibility but only
observe the light scattered by them. Thus ultra microscope does not provide any
information about the size and shape of colloidal particles.
Kinetic Properties: (Brownian Movement)
When a sol is examined with an ultramicroscope, the suspended particles are seen
as shining speeks of light. By following an individual particle, it is observed that the
particle is in a state of continuous motion in zigzag directions. The continuous
rapid zigzag motion of a colloidal particle in the dispersion medium is called
Brownian movement of motion (first observed by British botanish Robert Brown).
The Brownian movement has been explained to be due to the unbalanced bombardments
of the particles by the molecules of dispersion medium. This motion is independent of
the nature of the colloid but depend on the size of the particles and viscosity of the
solution. Smaller the size and lesser the viscosity, faster is the motion. The Brownian
movement has a stirring effect which does not permit the particles to settle and thus, is
responsible for the stability of sols.
Charge on Colloidal Particles:
Colloidal particles always carry an electric charge. The mutual forces of repulsion
between similarly charged particles prevent them from aggregating and settling
under the action of gravity. This gives stability to the sol. A list of common sols
with the type of charge on their particles is given below.
S Positively Charged Negatively Charged
N
1. Hydrated metallic oxides Metals e.g. copper, silver, gold sols.
e.g.: Al2O3.xH2O, CrO3.xH2O and
Fe2O3.xH2O etc
2. Basic dye stuff example Methylene blue Metallic sulphides like As2S3, Sb2S3,
sol CdS
3. Proteins in acidic medium Hemoglobin Acid dye stuff example Congored
(blood) sols, eosin, albumin.
4. Oxides like TiO2, etc Sols of starch, gum gelatin, clay &
charcoal
The charge on colloidal particles is due to one or more of the following reasons:
(i) The sol particles acquire positive or ve charge by preferential adsorption of +ve or
ve ions from the dispersion medium.
Preferential adsorption of ions is the most accepted reason. The sol particles acquire
positive or negative charge by preferential adsorption of +ve or ve ions. When two or
more ions are present in the dispersion medium, preferential adsorption of the ion
common to the colloidal particle usually takes place. This can be explained by taking the
following examples:
(a) When silver nitrate solution is added to potassium iodide solution, the precipitated
silver iodide absorbs iodide ions from the dispersion medium and negatively
charged colloidal solution results. However, when Kl solution is added to AgNO 3
solution, positively charged sol results due to adsorption of Ag + ions from dispersion
medium.
Agl/l Agl/Ag+
Negatively charged Positively charged
(b) If FeCl3 is added to excess of hot water, a positively charged sol of hydrated ferric
oxide is formed due to adsorption of Fe 3+ ions. However, when ferric chloride is
added to NaOH a negatively charged sol is obtained with adsorption of OH ions.
Fe2O3.xH2O/Fe3+ Fe2O3.xH2O/OH
Positively charged Negatively charged
Having acquired a positive or a negative charge by selective adsorption on the
surface of a colloidal particle as stated above, this layer attracts counter ions from
the medium forming a second layer, as shown below.
Agl/l K+ Agl/Ag+ l
The combination of the two layers of
opposite charges around the colloidal
particle is called Halmholtz electrical
double layer. According to modern views,
the first layer of ions is firmly held and is
termed fixed layer while the second layer is
mobile which is termed diffused layer. Since
separation of charge is a basis of potential,
the charges of opposite signs on the fixed
and diffused parts of the double layer results
in a difference in potential between these
layers. This potential difference between the
fixed layer and the diffused layer of opposite
charges is called the electrokinetic
potential or zeta potential.
The presence of equal and similar charges on colloidal particle is largely responsible
in providing stability to the colloidal solution, because the repulsive forces between
charged particles having same charge prevent them from coagulating or
aggregating when they come closer to one another.
Electrical Properties:
(a) Stability of colloidal sols Electrical charge on colloidal particles: The
dispersed phase particles carry either +ve and ve charge and dispersion medium
has an equal and opposite charge. The particles repel one another and hence do
not coagulate, thus making the colloid stable.
Origin of electrical charge on colloidal particles:
a. Due to frictional electrification
b. due to electron capture by sol particles.
c. Due to preferential adsorption of ions from the solution.
d. Due to dissociation of molecule electrolytes adsorbed on the surface of the
particles.
e. Due to dissociation of molecules followed by aggregation of ions
Gels
These are colloidal systems where liquids are the dispersed phase and solids act as
dispersion medium, e.g. curd, cheese etc. When a warm solution of gelatin is cooled it
sets to a semisolid mass which is gel. This process is called gelation.
Applications of Colloidal System
Colloids are widely used in the industry. Following are some examples.
1. Medicines in colloidal form can be easily adsorbed by body tissues & hence are
more effective e.g. colloidal antimony is used in curing kalaazar, argyrols is a silver
sol used as an eye lotion. Colloidal gold is used for intramuscular injection
Neutralization of excess acidity by Al (OH) 3, Milk of magnesia, an emulsion, is used
for stomach disorders, colloidal sulphur germ killer, kalolin used to remove toxins
from intestine. Cod liver oil is emulsion of oil in water. Some ointment, antibiotics,
Penicillin, streptomycin are produced in colloidal form. Colloidal medicines are
more effective because they have large surface area and are therefore easily
assimilated.
2. Food: Gelatin in icecream. It preserve smoothness and prevent ice crystals
formation, protein, milk, cheese are colloids, fruits, jelly, cream, bread is dispersion
of air in baked dough.
4. Purification of water by alums: Water from rivers or lakes are sometimes used
for domestic and industrial purpose after purification. The water from lake or river
is turbid due to the presence of fine clay particles which are negatively charged.
These can be removed by adding potash alum or aluminiumsulphate. Al 3+ ions
from potash alum o aluminiumsulphate neutralize the negative charge on clay
particles. This causes the coagulation of clay particles which settle down leaving
water which is clear of further treatment.
5. Stoppage of bleeding from a fresh cut: The bleeding from a fresh cut can be
immediately stopped by applying a concentrated solution of ferric chloride or
potash alum. Blood consists of colloidal particles of haemoglobins which carry
positive charge on them. When ferric chloride or alum is applied on the cut these
colloidal particles get their positive charge neutralized by the anions available
from these substances in solution. In the absence of the charge, they get
coagulated and the bleeding stops.
6. Delta formation: Formation of delta due to coagulation of colloidal particles of
river water by sea salt. The river water contains colloidal particles of sand and clay
which carry negative charge. The sea water, on the other hand, contains positive
ions such as Na+, Mg2+ and Ca++. As the river water meets sea water, these ions
discharge the sand or clay particles which are precipitated as delta.
Answers
1. d 2. d 3. a 4. d 5. c
Answer
Objective Assignment
Q.1 Which of the following metal sols cannot be prepared by Bredigs arc method?
(a) copper (b) potassium (c) gold (d) platinum
Q.2 Gelatin protects
(a) gold sol (b) As2S3 sol (c) Fe(OH)3 sol (d) all of these
Q.3 Flocculation value is expressed in terms of
(a) milli mole/L (b) mole/L (c) grams/L (d) mole/ mL
Q.4 The gold numbers of four protective colloids O, P, Q and R are 0.005, 0.01, 0.1 and
0.5 respectively. The decreasing order of their protective power is
(a) R, Q, P, O (b) O, P, Q, R (c) P, Q, R, O (d) Q, R, O, P
Q.5 A sol has positively charged colloidal particles. Which of the following solutions is
required in lowest concentration for coagulation?
(a) NaCl (b) K4[Fe(CN)6] (c) ZnCl2 (d) Na2SO4
Q.6 The protective power of lyophilic sol is
(a) dependent on the size of colloidal particles
(b) expressed in terms of gold number (c) expressed by x/m
(d) directly proportional to the magnitude of charge on it
Q.7 Which plot is the adsorption isobar for chemisorptions?
Q.8 The stability of the dispersed phase in a lyophobic colloid is due to
(a) high viscosity of the medium (b) the formation of electrical layer between two
phases
(c) high surface tension of solution (d) none of the answer is correct
Q.9 Tyndall effect is due to
(a) reflection of light (b) scattering of light (c) absorption of light (d)
adsorption of light
Q.10 The ability of ion to bring about coagulation of a given colloidal solution depends
upon
(a) the size of its ion (b) the magnitude of charge
(c) the sign of charge (d) both magnitude and sign of
charge
Q.11 Purple of cassius is
(a) colloidal solution of gold (b) colloidal solution of silver
(c) colloidal solution of platinum (d) oxyacids of gold
Q.38 Critical micelle concentration (CMC) of soap solutions lies in the range:
(a) 106 105 M (b) 105 104 M (c) 104 103 M (d) 103 102 M
x x 1 m 1 p
log v / s log c log v/s v/s v/s p
m m p x p ( x / m)
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Q.58 Zeolites are:
(a) hydratedaluminosilicates which can be used for shape selective catalysis
(b) have general formula Mx/n [(AlO2)x (SiO2)y]. mH2O where, n is charge on metal
Cation Mn+.
(c) have pore sizes between 260 pm to 740 pm
(d) ZSM5 which is used in petroleum industry as a catalyst, converts hydrocarbons
into alcohols
. Q.59 Lyophilic sols are characterized by:
(a) colloidal particles are solvated (b) reversible in nature
(c) colloidal particles always have charge (either positive or negative)
(d) smallquanity of electrolyte is required for precipitation
Q.60 Colloidal solutions prepared by chemical processes contains impurities in the form
of electrolyte or the soluble substance. Which of the following methods are
commonly used to purify a colloidal solution.
(a) peptization (b) eletrodialysis
(c) Bredigs arc method (d) ultra centrifugation
Q.61 If x/m is the mass of adsorbate adsorbed per unit mass of adsorbent, P is the
pressure of the adsorbate gas, a & b are constants, which of the following represent
Langmuir adsorption isotherm?
x a 1 x aP
log log P
m b a m 1 bP
(a) log (b)
x a x
a.P
m b m
(c) (when the pressure is high) (d) (when the pressure is low)
Q.62 Which one of the following graphs correctly represents effect of temperature on the
process of adsorption?
Column I Column II
I. Tyndall effect (A) Au, Ag, Pt sol
II. Sluphur sol (B) Oxidation
III. Electrical disintegration (C) Scattering of light
IV. Lyophobic sol (D) Colloidal solution
Q.67
Column I Column II
I. Physical adsorption (A) stable
II. Chemical adsorption (B) less stable
III. Gelatin (C) Irreversible
IV. Gold sol (D) reversible
Note:Each statement in column I has only one match in column II.
Q.68
Column I Column II
I. Purple of cassius (A) congorubin dye
II. Langmiur isotherm (high p) (B) x/m = a/b
III. freundlich isotherm (C) colloidal sol
(intermediate p)
IV. Rubin number (D) x/m = k.p1/n
(E)
Assertion & Reason Type
Direction: Read the following questions and choose
(A) If both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct
explanation of the Assertion.
(B) If both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not correct
explanation of the Assertion.
(C) If Assertion is true but Reason is false(D)If Assertion is false but Reason
is true
Q.69 Assertion: A sol of As2S3 prepared by the action of the H 2S on As2O3 is negatively
charged.
Reason: It is due to the adsorption of H + ions on the surface of colloidal particles
and S2 ion get diffused in todispersion medium.
Q.70 Assertion: For As2S3, sol, BaCl2 has higher coagulation value than NaCl
Reason: Higher the valency of the oppositely charged ion of the electrolyte added,
higher is the coagulation value of the electrolyte.
Q.71 Assertion: Aqueous gold colloidal solution is red in colour.
Reason: The colour arises due to scattering of light by colloidal gold particles.
Q.72 Assertion: Physical adsorption of molecules on the surface required activation
energy.
Reason: The physical adsorption is due to weak Vander Waal force of attraction
between adsorbent and adsorbate.
Q.73 Assertion: Habers synthesis of NH3 is carried out in the presence of catalyst.
Reason: The catalyst shifts the position of the equilibrium of the reaction.
(a) (A) (b) (B) (c) (C) (d)
(D)
Passage Based Problems
A colloid is a heterogeneous system in which one substance is dispersed (dispersed
phase) as a very fine particles in another substance called dispersion medium.
Depending upon whether the dispersed phase and the dispersion medium are solids,
liquids or gases, eight type of colloidal systems are possible. They are prepared in the
industry or in the laboratory by a number of methods and then purified. Hardy and &
Schulze made a substantial contribution in studying the coagulation of colloids. The
protective power of lyophilic sol was studied by Zsigmondy and he introduced the term
Gold number.
Q.76 If dispersed phase is a liquid and the dispersion medium is solid, the colloid is know
as
(a) a sol (b) a gel (c) an emulsion (d) a foam
Q.77 Which of the following anions will have minimum flocculation value for ferric
hydroxide so?
SO 24
(a) (b) Cl (c) Br (d) [Fe(CN)6]3
Answers
1 b 11 a 21 d 31 b 41 d
2 d 12 a 22 c 32 a 42 c
3 a 13 a 23 d 33 c 43 c
4 b 14 c 24 b 34 c 44 b
5 b 15 a 25 c 35 a 45 b
6 b 16 d 26 d 36 c 46 d
7 c 17 c 27 a 37 d 47 a
8 b 18 c 28 c 38 c 48 c
9 b 19 c 29 d 39 d 49 c
10 d 20 c 30 b 40 c 50 a
Answers More than One Option
51 a,b, c, 52 a,b 53 a,b, c 54 b,c 55
a,b
56 a, c,b 57 a, c,d 58 a,b, c 59 a, b 60 b, d
61 b,c, d 62 a, c 63 a,b,c, d 14 a, b,c,d
65 b,c, d
Match the following
66 Ia, c, d ;IIb,c,d ;IIIa,c,d ;IVa,b,c,d
67 Ib,d ;IIa,c ;IIIa,d ;IVb,c
68 Ic ;IIb ;IIId ;IVa
Assertion & Reason
69 c 70 d 71 a 72 d 73 c
74 b 75 c 76 b 77 d