question_answer 81)

  What happens when electric field is applied to colloidal solution?

Answer:

                    When electric potential is applied to colloidal solution, the colloidal particles move towards one or other electrode. Positively charged particles move towards the cathode while negatively charged particles move towards the anode. The movement of colloidal particles under an applied electric potential is called electrophoresis. When electrophpresis is prevented by some means, then the dispersion medium begins to move in an electric field. This phenomenon is termed as electroosmosis.