Adsorption of metal ions from solution onto a piezoelectric quartz crystal

Many metal ions are spontaneously adsorbed onto a piezoelectric quartz crystal and change the oscillation frequency. The pH ranges in which the metal ions adsorbed were just below that of precipitate formation as the ‘hydroxides’; frequency changes caused by adsorption were not observed in these pH ranges where the ‘hydroxides’ formed. Cationic organic reagents, such as crystal violet and methylene blue, were also adsorbed on the piezoelectric quartz crystal but non-ionic and anionic organic compounds were not. These results showed that the crystal was negatively charged on the surface.