Term: Zimm plot
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.Z06748

Definition:
A diagrammatic representation of data on scattering from large particles, corresponding to the equation: \[\frac{K_{c}}{\Delta R (\theta)} = \frac{1}{\bar{M}_{\text{w}}\ P (\theta)}+2\ A_{2}\ c+\text{ ... }\] and used for the simultaneous evaluation of the mass average molar mass, M ̄ w, the second virial coefficient of the chemical potential, A2, and (usually) the z-average radius of gyration, s 2 z 1 2; c is the mass concentration of the solute, ΔRθ the excess Rayleigh ratio, and P θ the particle scattering function that comprises (usually) the z-average radius of gyration. K depends on the solute, the temperature and the type of radiation employed. Several modifications of the Zimm plot are in frequent use; the most common one uses the excess scattering instead of the excess Rayleigh ratio.

Related Terms:
1) scattering (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05487).
2) chemical potential (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01032).
3) particle scattering function (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04429).
4) radius of gyration (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05121).
5) excess rayleigh ratio (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E02236).
6) virial coefficient (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.V06625).
7) rayleigh ratio (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05159).

Source: Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 66 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)

Citation: 'Zimm plot' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.Z06748

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.