Question

What is meant by coagulation of a colloidal solution? Describe briefly any three methods by which coagulation of lyophobic sols can be carried out.

Answer 1

Hint- In order to deal with this question first we will understand the term coagulation of colloidal solution further we will discuss its three methods such as Electrophoresis, Boiling, Addition of electrolytes.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Colloidal solution coagulation: The mechanism of settling colloidal particles by induced aggregation by adding any sufficient electrolyte is known as coagulation.
Three methods by which lyophobic sols can be coagulated are:
Electrophoresis: The colloidal particles travel towards opposite charged electrodes during electrophoresis, get discharged and coagulated.
Boiling: The adsorbed layer is disrupted when boiling a sol because of increased contact with the dispersion medium molecules. This reduces the charge on the particles which ultimately settle down as a precipitate.
Addition of electrolytes: If an abundance of an electrolyte is applied to a colloidal solution, the colloids bind with themselves with ions bearing load opposite to the current. It allows their coagulation to become neutralised.

Additional information-
An electrolyte is a material which, when dissolved in a polar solvent, produces an electrically conductive solution, such as water. The dissolved electrolyte is separated into cations and anions, which evenly spread through the solvent. Such a solution is electrically neutral.

Note- Colloidal solutions, or colloidal liquids, are nothing but a mixture where the compounds are dissolved continuously in a solvent. A colloid is a very tiny object that is randomly distributed all over another substance. Colloidal structures can exist in either of the three main gas, liquid, or solid matter states. A colloidal solution, however, commonly refers to a chemical concoction. Essentially the proportions of the component components are the key distinguishing characteristic between a true solution and a colloidal solution.