The zig-zag movement of the small particles suspended in a liquid or gas is called __________.

The correct answer is Brownian motion.

Key Points

• Brownian motion refers to the random, zig-zag movement of microscopic particles suspended in a fluid (liquid or gas).
• This phenomenon occurs due to the constant collisions between the suspended particles and the molecules of the fluid.
• It was first observed by botanist Robert Brown in 1827 while studying pollen grains in water.
• Albert Einstein provided a theoretical explanation for Brownian motion in 1905, linking it to the kinetic theory of matter.
• Brownian motion is a fundamental concept used to validate the existence of atoms and molecules and to understand diffusion processes.

Additional Information

• Diffusion: Diffusion is the process where particles move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, driven by random molecular motion.
• Osmosis: Osmosis is the movement of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.
• Kinetic theory of matter: This theory explains that particles in matter are in constant motion, and their movement increases with temperature.
• Compressibility: Compressibility is the measure of how much the volume of a substance decreases under pressure, typically significant in gases.
• Applications of Brownian motion: It is used in various fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, and financial modeling to describe random behaviors and stochastic processes.