View source for Chemistry:Brownian motion of sol particles

{{Short description|Brownian motion in colloidal sol substances}}

[[Physics:Colloid|Colloid]]al particles in a [[Chemistry:Sol (colloid)|sol]] are continuously bombarded by the molecules of the dispersion medium on all sides. The impacts are however not equal in every direction. As a result, the sol particles show random or zig-zag movements. This random or zig-zag motion of the colloidal particles in a sol  is called [[Brownian motion]] or Brownian movement.

The phenomenon of Brownian motion was observed by [[Biography:Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|Robert Brown]] in the form of random zig-zag motion of pollen grains suspended in water.  This kind of movement is found in all colloidal systems. Such random motion is visible under [[Engineering:Ultramicroscope|ultramicroscope]]s and for bigger particles even under ordinary microscopes.

The Brownian motion becomes progressively less prominent, as the particles grow in size or the [[Physics:Viscosity|viscosity]] of the medium increases.

[[Category:Colloidal chemistry]]

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{{Sourceattribution|Brownian motion of sol particles}}