water can be separated by filtration, but a mixture of salt and water cannot.
A mixture of sand and water is a suspension,
and a mixture of salt and water is a solution. The particles in the sand mixture are much larger than the ions in the salt mixture. The sand particles are too large to pass through filter paper; the ions are not.
containing particles that range in size from 1 nm to 1000 nm. In other words,a colloid is a microscopically small substance that is equally dispersed throughout another material. • The particles are spread, throughout the dispersion medium, which can be a solid, liquid, or gas.
essentially when one liquid is evenly distributed throughout another liquid. An example of this would be milk or mayonnaise. The third form is called a sol, which is when a solid is evenly distributed throughout a liquid. Examples of sols include blood, paint
than those in suspensions and larger than those in solutions. • These intermediate-sized particles cannot be retained by filter paper as are the larger particles of a suspension. • They do not settle out with time.
in the medical field because they can be used to manipulate blood conditions. More specifically, they are often used to regulate colloidal osmotic pressure.
Coagulation All the colloidal particles in a particular colloidal system will have the same charge, although the colloidal system is neutral. • The repulsion between the like-charged particles prevents the particles from forming heavier aggregates that would have a greater tendency to settle out.
Coagulation A colloidal system can be destroyed or coagulated by the addition of electrolytes. • The added ions neutralize the charged colloidal particles. • The particles can clump together to form heavier aggregates and settle out from the dispersion.
This table summarizes the properties of solutions,
colloids, and suspensions. Properties of Solutions, Colloids, and Suspensions System Property Solution Colloid Suspension Ions, atoms, Large molecules or Large particles or Particle type small molecules particles aggregates Particle size 0.1–1 nm 1–1000 nm 1000 nm and larger Effect of light No scattering Exhibits Tyndall effect Exhibits Tyndall effect Effect of Stable, does Stable, does not Unstable, sediment gravity not separate separate forms Particles not Particles not retained Particles retained on Filtration retained on filter on filter filter Uniformity Homogeneous Heterogeneous Heterogeneous
because the particles of a suspension are much larger and do not stay suspended indefinitely. Colloids have particles smaller than those in suspensions and larger than those in solutions.
