What is the process of peptization in chemistry

ASidd

I read on a website that by washing a precipitate with too much de-ionised water; the precipitate is Peptized and thus some precipitate is lost.

I am having a hard time understanding what peptization is? Can somebody please help me understand in simple terms for an A level student?

Borek

Have you checked wikipedia?

ASidd

I didn't understand the wiki article tbh english isn't my first language and I was hoping if someone could explain it. In less technical terms?

Borek

You have a suspension of very fine, charged particles. They don't precipitate, because they repel each other. When you add an inert salt, its ions get attracted to these particles, neutralizing the charge. In turn precipitate can be formed, as the particles stop to repel each other. If you wash the precipitate with deionized water, you remove inert salt ions, precipitate particles become charged again and can dissolve.

If it is still too technical, please explain where you get lost.

ASidd

Okay so can this also apply to Barium sulfate precipitate? If you wash the precipitate with about 1 bottle of De-ionised water will it be peptized and some of it lost??

Borek

No ,idea, but I have reasons to doubt. Barium sulfate is not colloidal. Then, washing it with deionised water is not the best idea for other reasons.

ASidd

What will some of those reasons be?