Liquid-liquid extraction and electrokinetic studies show that both the talc particles and the isooctane droplets are affected by the presence of hydrolysable metal species of Al(III) and Cr(III). The inherent lipophilicity of talc is unchanged by the hydroxo complexes of these metal species, while positive shifts in zeta potentials of talc and isooctane take place due partly to the strong adsorption of these hydroxo complexes. In the pH range where the hydroxide precipitates, the talc particles are rendered hydrophilic between the precipitation pH and the point-of-zero charge of the metal hydroxide. This hydrophile-lipophile transition of talc in the isooctane-water system relates to heterocoagulation among talc particles, isooctane droplets and hydroxide precipitates.