ON THE FORMATION OF INORGANIC COLLOID PARTICLES

A qualitative model for the formation of inorganic colloidal particles is presented. The model is based on the symmetry of the complexes in solution and on the symmetry of distribution, i.e., position and orientation of the binding sites of the complexes. These factors determine the final particle shape when particles grow by crystallization, while in the case of additional secondary aggregation, it is controlled also by the factors which determine crystal habit and stability of colloidal particles. In addition, kinetic factors have to be considered also because the systems are normally driven through various phases far from themodynamic equilibrium.