Polyelectrolyte

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Polyelectrolyte

A polyelectrolyte is a polymer containing ionizable groups. Polyelectrolytes are classified into two types: weak and strong. The classification is based on the dissociation degree of the ionizable groups in the polymer.

Types of Polyelectrolytes[edit | edit source]

Weak Polyelectrolytes[edit | edit source]

Weak Polyelectrolytes are partially ionized in solution. The degree of ionization is dependent on the pH of the solution. Examples of weak polyelectrolytes include polyacrylic acid and polyamines.

Strong Polyelectrolytes[edit | edit source]

Strong Polyelectrolytes are fully ionized in solution, regardless of the pH. Examples of strong polyelectrolytes include poly(styrenesulfonate) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride).

Applications of Polyelectrolytes[edit | edit source]

Polyelectrolytes have a wide range of applications in various fields. They are used in water treatment processes, in the production of paper, in cosmetics, and in pharmaceuticals. They are also used in biotechnology for DNA sequencing and protein purification.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Polyelectrolyte Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg
Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD