Precipitation of silver chloride from homogeneous solution. Part 1.—Particle size and shape characteristics

Abstract

The precipitation of silver chloride from homogeneous solution has been studied by conductance measurements, electron microscopy and electrophoresis. The silver chloride was produced by the hydrolysis of allyl chloride in aqueous silver nitrate solutions so as to give a wide range of [Ag⁺]/[Cl^–] ratio at the onset of precipitation. Monodisperse sols exhibiting higher order Tyndall spectra were formed at silver nitrate concentrations furthest removed from the zero point of charge at pAg = 3.96. Around the zero point of charge there is a marked change in the critical ion product for precipitation and the sols formed in these regions showed maximum polydispersity in size and shape with marked twinning. Heterogeneous nucleation is postulated.