Question

The precipitation of a colloidal solution on addition of an electrolyte is called ______ or ______.

Answer 1

The precipitation of a colloidal solution on addition of an electrolyte is called coagulation or flocculation.

Explanation:

Coagulation occurs when the ions of the added electrolyte neutralize the charge on colloidal particles, reducing the repulsive forces and causing particles to aggregate and precipitate out of the solution. This process is essential in understanding the stability of colloids and is influenced by the valency of the ions involved, as explained by the Hardy-Schulze rule.