Abstract
COLLOIDAL electrolytes are defined as solutions of salts in which one ion has been replaced by a heavily hydrated multivalent “micelle”, or cluster of ions, carrying an electrical charge equal to the sum of the charges of the constituent ions, and (by reason of its reduced resistance to movement through the fluid) serving as an excellent conductor of electricity. This new class of electrolytes probably includes most organic compounds, containing more than eight car. bon atoms, which are capable of forming ions—e.g. proteins, dyes, indicators, sulphonates, and soaps; it may also include inorganic compounds, such as chromium salts, tungstates, silicates, etc., which have a marked tendency to form highly complex ions. Work on this subject has been in progress in the laboratory of physical chemistry at the University of Bristol during a period of several years, and the results of the investigation have recently been published. by Prof. J. W. McBain in papers communicated to the Royal Society (Proc. R.S., 1920, A, 7, 44-65), to the Chemical Society (Trans C.S., 115, 1279–1300), and to the American Chemical Society.
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L., T. Collodal Electrolytes. Nature 105, 760–761 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105760a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105760a0