The existence of the electrical charge can be shown by the process of ‘Electrophoreses’ which is also known as ‘Cataphoresis’. It involves the movement of colloidal particles towards one or the other electrode when placed under the influence of an electric field. The movement of colloidal particles under the influence of an electric field is called Electrophoresis or Cataphoresis.
As soon as the colloidal particles reach the oppositely charged electrode, they gat neutralized and coagulated. Electrophoresis can be used to find out the nature of the charge that the colloidal particles carry.
Earlier the term used was ‘cataphoresis’ because most of the colloidal sols studied at that time contained positively charged colloidal particles and thus migrated towards cathodes. However, now the term Electrophoresis is preferred because colloidal particles may migrate towards either of the electrode i.e. anode or cathode depending upon the charge on the colloidal particles.
