A system of colloid phenomena

Abstract

Colloid experiments are frequently interpreted on the assumption that attractive and repulsive forces are acting between the particles. In the paper below the consequences of this assumption are analysed from a theoretical point of view. It is found that the phenomena which may arise must logically be divided into two classes. These two classes show a very striking resemblance with the phenomena observed in lyophobic and lyophylic colloids respectively. It is also easily seen that the two classes of phenomena are not definitely separated, but that intermediate cases may exist. This is again in close agreement with the result of observation.Strictly, however, the therms “lyophobic” and “lyophylic” do not apply to our classes of phenomena; instead of this a distinction between “reversible” and “irreversible” phenomena is proposed and it is maintained that, by combining this classification with the common distinction between lyophobic and lyophylic colloids, a more satisfactory system of colloids and colloid phenomena is obtained.