THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTROLYTES ON THE FORMATION AND DECOMPOSITION OF URATE GELS

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Abstract
A study has been made of the influence of various electrolytes in promoting gelation of aqueous supersaturated solutions of the urates of methylamine, lithium, piperazine and tetramethylammonium. The cation has been found to be the active agent. The minimal concentration of the electrolyte which is effective has been determined over the gelation range of the urate. The order of efficacy of the cations may be stated in general to be K > NH4 > Rb > Cs > Li > Na. A maximal concentration of electrolyte has been found above which immediate precipitation rather than gelation occurs. The time required for gelation varies inversely with the amount of electrolyte present in any single concentration of urate. The rigidity varies directly up to the point of precipitation. The time of crystallization of the gel varies directly with the concentration of the electrolytes, sodium chloride, rubidium chloride and lithium chloride but inversely with potassium chloride and ammonium chloride. Certain organic diamines have been found to possess the power of causing gelation over a limited range of urate. Ethyl alcohol, between 20 and 60%, causes gelation of lithium urate and methylamine urate.The thixotropic effect has been observed in gels of piperazine urate containing potassium chloride and lithium urate with alcohol.The action of electrolytes on urate gels is interpreted as partially electro-kinetic and partially lyotropic in nature.

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