DLVO theory, named after scientists Boris Derjaguin, Lev Landau, Evert Verwey, and Theodor Overbeek, is a fundamental framework in colloidal chemistry that explains the stability of colloidal dispersions. It describes the balance between attractive and repulsive forces acting on colloidal particles in a suspension.

Key points of DLVO theory:

Electrostatic Repulsion: When colloidal particles acquire surface charges (e.g., due to ion adsorption), they develop an electric double layer. The electrostatic repulsion between similarly charged particles helps prevent aggregation.

Van der Waals Attraction: Particles also experience attractive van der Waals forces, which tend to cause aggregation or coagulation.

Total Interaction Potential: The stability of colloids depends on the net interaction potential, which is the sum of the electrostatic repulsive energy and the van der Waals attractive energy.

Energy Barrier and Stability: If the energy barrier (due to electrostatic repulsion) is high enough, particles remain dispersed. If it’s low or absent, particles tend to come together and aggregate.

In summary:
DLVO theory explains colloidal stability by analyzing the interplay of attractive van der Waals forces and repulsive electrostatic forces, predicting whether particles will remain dispersed or coagulate under given conditions.

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