Adsorption of inorganic ions viz. copper (II), silver (I), oxalate (II) and ferrocyanide (IV) by various samples of hydrous thorium oxide at different temperatures has been studied. Increase in temperature leads to the decrease in the adsorptive capacity of the hydroxide and hence to a phenomenon similar to that of ageing of the samples. It is postulated that the effect of age and excess of alkali lead to dehydration of the samples. A mechanism of polymerisation has been suggested to explain these observations.
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