CHM 431

1.

Tutorial: Colloid

Give three essential features which distinguish a colloidal solution from a true
solution.

2. Differentiate between:
a) a hydrophilic and hydrophobic colloid
b) a sol and an aerosol
3. Describe briefly how a colloidal suspension of either arsenic(II) sulphide (arsenious
sulphide) or iron(III)hydroxide (ferric hydroxide) may be prepared.
4, With regard to colloids, what is meant by:
a) Tyndal effect
b) Brownian movement
c) Dialysis
5. A lyophobic sol is usually prepared by a process called peptization. Explain with an
example what is peptization.
6.

Lyophobic colloids can be prepared via condensation method by controlling the

experimental conditions like temperature, choice of solvent and concentration of
reactants.
i) What is meant by condensation method?
ii) Give a reason why these experimental conditions need to be controlled.

6. Briefly describe the two ways in which a hydrophobic sol can be stabilized.
7. Coagulation of colloids can be caused by heat. Explain this statement.
8.

Explain briefly with a diagram why a lyophilic

electrolyte to bring about precipitation.

sol requires a large amount of

9. Describe briefly how you coagulate a hydrophobic sol like a gold sol. What is the
Schulze-Hardy rule? How would you demonstrate its application experimentally?
10. What is electrophoresis? Explain with an example of ferric hydroxide sol and draw
a fully labeled diagram of the apparatus which is used to demonstrate
electrophoresis in the laboratory.
11. Explain how aluminium sulphate can be used in water treatment plants to remove
suspension of clay particles. Why a common salt less effective than aluminium
sulphate?

CHM 471

TUTORIAL: SURFACE CHEMISTRY

1. Compare the two types of adsorption pattern, physisorption and chemisorption, based on the forces of
interaction between the adsorbate and the adsorbent. Sketch the shape of the adsorption isotherms for
these two types of adsorptions.
2. The Langmuir isotherm which is used to describe the adsorption behaviour of a gas on a solid surface is
derived based on two assumptions. What are the two assumptions?
3. Langmuirs data for the adsorption of nitrogen on mica at 90K are as tabulated.
P, bar
Volume adsorbed,
3
o
-1
mm at 20 C and 1 bar g
a)
b)
c)
d)

2.8
12.2

3.4
13.6

4.0
15.3

4.9
17.2

6.0
19.2

7.4
21.9

9.5
24.2

13.0
25.8

17.3
28.6

23.8
31.2

33.9
33.4

Write the Langmuir isotherm expression and show that these data fit a Langmuir isotherms
expression.
Evaluate the constants in the expression.
Estimate the surface area of the mica sample in the experiment, taking the molecular area of
-19 2
nitrogen molecule to be 1.62 x 10 m .
Would you expect the data also fit a BET equation? Why?

4. The data below are for the adsorption of CO on charcoal at 280K. Confirm that they fit the Langmuir
isotherm, and find the constant K and the volume corresponding to complete coverage. In each case V
has been corrected to 1 atm.
p/ torr
3
V/ cm

100
10.3

200
19.3

300
27.3

400
34.1

500
40.0

600
45.5

700
48.0

Estimate the surface area of the adsorbent used in this experiment if each CO molecule occupies 2.1 x
-20 2
10 m .
5. The data below relate to the adsorption of N2 on TiO2 at 80K. Confirm that they fit a BET isotherm in the
range of pressures reported, and Vm and c.
p/ torr
3
V/ cm

1.20
235

14.0
559

45.8
649

87.5
719

127.7
790

164.4
860

204.7
950

At 80K, p = 570 torr. The volumes have been corrected to 1 atm and 273K and refer to 1 g of
2
substrate. If one molecule of N2 gas occupies an area about 0.16 nm . what is the surface area of the
sample (adsorbent) used in this experiment.
6. The following data were obtained for the adsorption of ammonia (NH3) on 1g of a sample of barium
fluoride at 273K.
= 18.6 C, p = 6148 torr
39.5
62.7
108
219
9.2
9.8
10.3
11.3
o

p/ torr
3
V/ cm

466
12.9

555
13.1

601
13.4

765
14.1

At 291.6 K, the saturated vapour pressure of NH3, p = 6148 Torr, and the volume in the table has been
corrected to 1 atm and 273 K (STP)
i)

ii)

confirm that these data fit a BET isotherm in the range of pressures reported and evaluate V m,
which is the volume of gas required to cover unit mass of the adsorbent with a complete
monolayer.
Estimate the surface area of the adsorbent, barium fluoride, assuming that a molecule of NH3
-19
2
occupies an area of 1.60 x 10 m .