Question

What happens when an electric field is applied to a colloidal dispersion?

Answer 1

When an electric field is applied to a colloidal dispersion, the charged colloidal particles move towards the oppositely charged electrode, a phenomenon called electrophoresis. If the particle movement is restricted by a semipermeable membrane, the dispersion medium moves in the opposite direction, known as electro-osmosis. This behavior confirms that colloidal particles carry a definite charge.