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Name: Damian B.
Status: student
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001 - 2002
Question:
Why are precipitates different colors?



Replies:
The color of a precipitate depends upon many factors:

1. What is the substance being precipitated? Is the substance already colored?

2. What is the crystal form? The same substance precipitated in different crystalline forms can have different colors.

3. What is the particle size? Very fine particles may appear black, even when the substance itself is not. This is especially true of metals.

So there is no single simple answer to the question, "Why are precipitates different colors?"

Vince Calder


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