HOMEWORK 3

MARJADI HANDIKAJATI KUSUMA (2173528)

1. Explain how clay minerals such as kaolinite and montmorillonite show unbalanced surface
charges.
In order to know the surface charge of the clay, we need to understand the structure of
clays. At atomic level, clays consist of alumino-silicates layer. Silicon atom binds together with
four oxygen atoms in form of silica tetrahedrons which forms together and create the silica
tetrahedra sheets.

Figure 1 (a). Bonding configuration of silica tetrahedron; (b) Silica tetrahedra sheets

This silica sheet is joined with a sheet of alumina octahedrons. Within this sheet,
aluminium or magnesium atom bonds with six hydroxyl ions (OH -).

Figure 2 (a). Bonding configuration of alumina octahedron; (b). Alumina Octahedron sheets
 Spacing on hydroxyl in the alumina and oxygen ion of upper layer of the silica
tetrahedron sheets satisfy bonding condition between these two layers. Thus, the clay structure
consists of either two-layer unit where exists ratio of 1:1 of silica tetrahedron layer to alumina
octahedron layer or three-layer unit where ratio of 2:1 of silica tetrahedron layer to alumina
octahedron layer.

Figure 3 (a) Two-layer unit; (b) Three-layer unit

If these layers are infinite in extent, the electrically balanced sheets are acquired.
However, since infinite chain of these layers are impossible to acquire, only to some finite
extent is achieved, thus leaves unsatisfied bonds at the edges of the sheet where negative ion
such as hydroxyl ion (OH-) on aluminum octahedron layer or Oxygen ion (O 2-).

Figure 4 Charge distribution on the surface of clay particle

Consequently, clays attract positive ions or molecules that have positive charges in order to
balance this charge. Clay minerals of kaolinite made up of stacked sheets of two layers units. In
case of montmorillonite, it attracts water molecules since water molecule have side with
positive charge. While for illite, it attracts potassium ion (K +).

In the environment, basic crystal structure of clay, aluminum or silica, is possible to be

replaced by metal atoms of lower ionic charge, such as Fe 2+ and Mg2+ which called isomorphus
substitution. This substitution creates charge imbalance as consequence, thus leaves negative
charge of clay particle. To balance the difference in charge, negative charged clay particle
adsorbed cations.

2. Explain stern layer, zeta-potential, and diffuse double layer thickness.

 When a charged particle submerged in a liquid such as an electrolyte solution, it will
attract the opposite ion. In this case the clay particle that dispersed in water will be put as an
example.

Since negative charge is dominant on clay particle surface, the positive ions will be
attracted to the surface in order to balance the condition. Water contains ions of dissolved
salts, which have cation such as potassium (K +) or sodium (Na+). These ions strongly gather on
the surface of clay particle, make a layer with high-attractive-force. This positive ion layer is
called Stern Layer.

Cationic ions neutralize the negative charge clay surface to an extent. A residual anionic
charge remains. These remaining charges attract further cations from the surrounding water.
Therefore, another layer called diffuse layer or Gouy-Chapman layer is developed around the
clay particle. This layer, which has a further distance to the particle surface, has a lower
attractive force. Consequently, it is less ordered and more movable.

Figure 5 Ion configuration on electric double layer

The ions that very close to the surface particle is either adsorbed or strongly associated
with the particle, such that it remains with the particle relative to the liquid when the particle
moves. The transition point between bound and free liquid (between stern layer and Guoy
diffuse layer) is called shear plane. However, if two particles approaching to each other, there
will be repulsion.
 Figure 6. Electric potential vs distance to particle surface

Graph shows about electrical potential as a function of distance away from particle
surface. The concept of electrical potential is a measure of how much energy it takes to move a
single point charge to the particle from distances. It is an indicator of the repulsion that is going
to exist as a function of their separation.

From the graph, we can see that the maximum electrical potential is at distance 0, which
is at the surface of clay particle. The surfaced charge is enveloped by the adsorbed material of
opposite charge, so the potential decreases between the particle surface and shear plane
linearly. The potential at the slipping plane is then defined as zeta potential. This potential
continues to decrease gradually beyond the shear plane. A thickness is defined as the distance
at which the potential has decreased to 1/e of its initial value which value is approximately 1/ κ .