EFFECTS OF ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC-FIELDS ON PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES

Gas bubbles moving in aqueous electrolytes deviate from straight trajectories upon the application of electric and magnetic fields. The reasons for such deviation are considered and the possibility of determining the charge of the bubbles by methods based on electrophoresis and applied magnetic field are assessed. It is shown that the electric-field-induced deviation of gas flows from the vertical trajectory cannot be used to evaluate the charge on a bubble because of the detrimental influence of electroosmotic water transfer. The use of applied magnetic fields for the determination of the charge on bubbles produced by electrolysis is hindered by magnetoelectrohydrodynamic effects.