Colloid and Surface Chemistry

Education facts

Code: KEM131

The course deals with colloidal systems and interfaces. Colloids consist of small particles dispersed in a medium, typically a liquid. The particle size is in the nanometer to micrometer range. Colloids are important for a variety of practical and industrial applications: pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper industry, food, environmental protection, and many applications of biological relevance. In the course you will learn about basic properties of colloidal systems and interfaces. You will also gain insights into how to characterize colloidal systems. The course covers, e.g., suface tension, adsorption, adhesion, monolayers, surfactants, liquid crystals, emulsions, microemulsions, electrical double layers, van der Waals forces, colloidal stability, light scattering, electrophoresis, and other electrokinetic phenomena. The course includes five laboratory exercises: surface tension, micelle formation, diffusion, colloidal stability, and electrophoresis.

Entry requirements

120 credits within Science. KEM040 Physical chemistry (15 credits) and MMGK11 Mathematics (15 credits) is strongly recommend, or equivalent education.

Education offerings

Each offering has its own dates and conditions. Closed offerings are retained as history and do not mean that a new application is open.

• Colloid and Surface Chemistry

  University of Gothenburg

  Start date: 20 January 2025

  End date: 27 March 2025

  Pace of study: 100 %