Colloidal electrolytes

Electrolytes are widely used for metal plating, in battery and for accelerating certain chemical reactions. A simple electrolyte can be prepared by mixing sodium and potassium salts of long-chain fatty acids in alcoholic solution. Aqueous solutions of soap are known as colloidal electrolytes which show higher boiling point and smaller colligative properties. Their electrical conducting properties are superlative. Here aqueous solutions of the soaps are ionized into an alkali metal cation and a fatty acid anion. An increase in the soap concentration results in grouping of anions to form ionic micelles. These ionic micelles contain ten or more ions with some water molecules associated with them. Highly viscous soap solutions yields extensively hydrated particles. Ionic micelles contribute less towards colligative properties. The main contributor is alkali metal ion. Heavy concentrations of soap results in large crystalline particles which have a laminated structure. Such a system is known as lamellar colloids which have conductivity properties similar to that of a normal colloidal system.