In chemistry, the process of transforming a precipitate into a colloidal solution is known as peptization. This process involves the dispersion of particles in a liquid medium to form a stable colloid. It typically requires the presence of a peptizing agent, which adsorbs onto the surface of the particles, providing them with a charge that prevents them from aggregating.
The key steps in peptization are:
Disruption of the cohesive forces among the precipitate particles.
Adsorption of a peptizing agent, typically an electrolyte, onto the particle surfaces.
Stabilization of dispersed particles, preventing them from settling.
This results in the formation of a colloidal solution where the particles are uniformly distributed in the liquid medium, remaining suspended due to their small size and the charge repulsion.
