The Synthesis of an Aqueous-based Ferrofluid

This experiment has been included in introductory chemistry courses at Lawrence since 2000, and is also used periodically in inorganic, materials chemistry, and non-majors chemistry courses. This experiment has also been conducted by several hundred Fox Valley Area 7-12th graders.

Ferrofluid, a colloidal suspension of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, is an easily prepared, captivating material that exhibits unusual spiking behavior in the presence of a magnetic field as shown in the picture below.

Pictures: Students observing the spiking behavior of the ferrofluid. Ferrofluid spiking behavior created by the magnetic field of the magnet below.

Links: http://mrsec.wisc.edu/edetc/cineplex/ffexp/index.html
http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/chemistry/outreach/tag_2002/

Last updated February , 2006

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