Difference Between Electrophoretic and Asymmetric Effect

The key difference between electrophoretic and asymmetric effect is that electrophoretic effect is the effect of the attraction forces between ionic species and solvent molecules on the movement of ions whereas asymmetric effect is the effect of the high ion concentration in the solution on the movement of ions.

The terms electrophoretic effect and asymmetric effect are usually discussed under the topic “electrolytic conductivity”. Electrolytic conductivity describes the movement of ionic species (cations and anions) in a solution. There are two major types of effects that can make changes on the ionic conductivity: electrophoretic effect and asymmetric effect.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Electrophoretic Effect
3. What is Asymmetric Effect
4. Side by Side Comparison – Electrophoretic vs Asymmetric Effect in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Electrophoretic Effect?

Electrophoretic effect is the effect of solvent molecules on the movement of a particular ion in a solution. It is an important factor that can slow down the movement of ions within a solution. Due to the attractive forces between the solvent molecules and the ionic species in the solution, when an electric potential is applied on the solution, it tends to move the ionic atmosphere around a particular moving ion itself. This moving ion is in the center of the ionic atmosphere. Due to this electrophoretic effect, the central ion is influenced to move towards the pole opposite its ionic atmosphere, which causes the slow movement of the ion.

Difference Between Electrophoretic and Asymmetric Effect

Figure 01: A Solution with an External Electric Potential Applied to it

What is Asymmetric Effect?

Asymmetric effect is the effect of other ions on the movement of a particular ion in a solution. In other words, this means a solution containing a high ionic concentration shows changes in ionic movement than usual. When we apply an electric potential on an electrolytic solution, the positive ions or the cations in the solution move towards the negative electrode and the negative ions or the anions move towards the positive electrode. If the concentration of the solution is high, the negative ions come closer to the positive ions. Then there is a resistance on the ionic species, affecting the speed of the moving ion. We call this effect the asymmetric effect. The name “asymmetric” is given since ion sphere around the moving ion is not symmetric due to the high ionic concentration.

In a highly concentrated ionic solution, the attraction forces between the positive and negative ions are great. When an electric potential is applied to a particular ion, the charge density of opposite charges in the back is higher than those in the front. Therefore, it slows down the motion of the ion. This happens due to the asymmetric charge density in the electrolytic solution.

What is the Difference Between Electrophoretic and Asymmetric Effect?

The electrolytic conductivity defines the movement of ionic species (cations and anions) in a solution. There are two major types of effects that can make changes to the ionic conductivity: electrophoretic effect and asymmetric effect. The key difference between electrophoretic and asymmetric effect is that electrophoretic effect is the effect of the attraction forces between ionic species and solvent molecules on the movement of ions whereas asymmetric effect is the effect of the high ion concentration in the solution on the movement of ions.

Below is a summary tabulation of the difference between electrophoretic and asymmetric effect.

Summary – Electrophoretic vs Asymmetric Effect

The terms electrophoretic effect and asymmetric effect are discussed under the topic “electrolytic conductivity”. The key difference between electrophoretic and asymmetric effect is that electrophoretic effect is the effect of the attraction forces between ionic species and solvent molecules on the movement of ions whereas the asymmetric effect is the effect of the high ion concentration in the solution on the movement of ions.