Periodic precipitation of lanthanum molybdate crystals in silica gel

Formation of Liesegang rings on the growth of La₂(MoO₄)₃·XH₂O in silica gel by single diffusion technique is discussed. The nature of the periodic precipitation is found to depend on the concentration of inner and outer electrolytes, gel medium and its pH. The ‘time law’, ‘spacing law’ and ‘the law relating diffusion depth and width’ are found obeyed in this system. The one-dimensional Liesegang phenomena is thus investigated quantitatively making use of the simple laws of diffusion.