1

Experiment 2: COLLOIDS

Score:

Jacobe Joey Marie M.

____________________________________________________________________________
Last name Given name MI

DVM 1-2 02-17-2023 02-26-2023

Course/Year Date performed Date
submitted

4PM - 7PM, Monday & Friday Ma’am Abigail Briones

Laboratory class schedule Laboratory Instructor/Professor

UNDERSTANDING CONCEPTS

1. What is a colloid? How does it differ from other substances? [2 pts]

Colloid is a mixture where one of the substances is split into very minute particles which are
dispersed throughout a second substance. The minute particles are known as colloidal particles.
Alternatively, colloids are basically solutions in which solute particle size ranges from 1 nm –
1000 nm, unlike suspensions—which are also heterogeneous mixtures— that involve particles
larger than those found in solutions, typically over 1,000 nm.

2. How are the colloids classified? Describe each type of colloids and give examples. [8 pts]

Classes of Description Examples

Colloids
1. gel Gels are a type of sols in which solid is dispersion pearl, cheese
medium and liquid is dispersed phase, these are stable
at comparatively low temperature
2. emulsion A mixture of two or more liquids in which one is present milk, oil in water
as droplets, of microscopic or ultramicroscopic size,
distributed throughout the other.
3. sols Aggregate of very fine particles dispersed in a paints, cell fluids
continuous medium.
4. solid sols A colloid in which the particles are solid and the ruby glass
dispersion medium is fluid.
 2

5. aerosols A system of liquid particles uniformly distributed in a fog, mist

finely divided state through a gas, usually air.
6. solid aerosols A system of solid particles uniformly distributed in a smoke, dust in the
finely divided state through a gas, usually air. air
7. foams Dispersion of a gas bubbles in a liquid prepared using a soap suds, whipped
foaming agent, which in most cases consists of one or cream
more surfactants.
8. solid foams The liquid has changed into a gel or a solid phase after lava, pumice
making the dispersion

3. Differentiate emulsoids and suspensoids. Give at least two (2) examples of each. [3 pts]

One basis for classification of colloidal systems is the nature of the dispersed phase. In a
suspensoid, the dispersed particles are in a solid state. In an emulsoid, the dispersed particles
are in a liquid state. Emulsoids are mostly organic materials, e.g. proteins and starch. Examples
of suspensoid are colloidal solutions of inorganic salts, metals etc.

4. What are the factors that contributed to the stability of a colloidal system? Why are they
important in maintaining the stability of a colloidal system? [4 pts]

Colloids are heterogeneous solutions consisting of a dispersed phase and a dispersion medium.
A colloid is stable if it does not get coagulated easily. The stability of colloids is due to two
factors: 1) Charge present on the colloid - Colloidal particles form a sheath of charge on
themselves thereby preventing any attraction between opposite charges. An electrical double
layer is formed. This layer prevents the coagulation of the colloid in addition to an electrolyte; 2)
Solvation of the colloidal particles - Colloidal system is stable if the colloidal particles are
present in the layers of the solvent uniformly. The more the particles are suspended in the layers
the more will be the stability of the colloidal system.

5. How do colloids acquire electrical charges? What experimental procedure can demonstrate
that colloidal particles are charged? [4 pts]

The colloidal particles are electrically charged in nature, this can be proved by electrolysis of the
colloidal solution. On electrolysis, the colloidal particle tends to move towards the electrode
having opposite charge to neutralize itself.

6. What are the properties/characteristics of a colloidal system? How is it differentiated from the
true solution and coarse suspension? Fill up the table below. [6 pts]
 3

Properties Colloids Solutions Suspension

1 Homogeneity Heterogenous Homogenous Heterogenous

2 Particle size Particle size: 1-1,000 Particle size: 0.01 - 1 Particle size: over 1000
nm, dispersed nm; nm, suspended
3 Kinds large molecules or atoms, ions or large particles or
aggregates molecules aggregates
4 Optical Property Scatter light (Tyndall Do not scatter light May either scatter light or
effect) be opaque
5 Standing Do not separate on Do not separate on Particles settle out
standing standing
6 Filterability Cannot be separated by Cannot be separated by Cannot be separated by
filtration filtration filtration

7. Describe the different ways to precipitate a colloid? Discuss the mechanism of precipitating
colloidal system. [6 pts]

A colloid may be precipitated by adding another colloid with oppositely charged particles; the
particles are attracted to one another, coagulate, and precipitate out. Addition of soluble ions
may precipitate a colloid; the ions in seawater precipitate the colloidal silt dispersed in river
water, forming a delta. Particles in a lyophobic system are readily coagulated and precipitated,
and the system cannot easily be restored to its colloidal state. A lyophilic colloid does not readily
precipitate and can usually be restored by the addition of solvent.

8. What is a protective colloid? How does a protective colloid function? Give at least three
examples of protective colloid? [6 pts]

The protective colloid is a type of lyophilic (liquid-loving) colloid which is used to protect the
lyophobic (liquid-hating) colloids from precipitating under the coagulating action of electrolytes.
When a lyophilic sol is added to the lyophobic sol, the lyophilic particles form a layer around
lyophobic particles and thus protect the latter from electrolytes. The common examples of
protective colloids are: gelatin, casein, hemoglobin, egg albumin, etc.

9. What is dialysis? Where do we need to use the principle of dialysis? What is the difference
between dialysis and osmosis? [3 pts]

Dialysis is the separation of suspended colloidal particles from dissolved ions or molecules of
small dimensions (crystalloids) by means of their unequal rates of diffusion through the pores of
semipermeable membranes. In the context of life science research, the most common
 4

application of dialysis is for the removal of unwanted small molecules such as salts, reducing
agents, or dyes from larger macromolecules such as proteins, DNA, or polysaccharides.
Dialysis is also commonly used for buffer exchange and drug binding studies. Osmosis, on the
other hand, involves water moving from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high
solute concentration across a semipermeable membrane. Dialysis is different to this, and
involves the separation of small molecules from large molecules.

10. What is the significance of dialysis in the absorption of food particles through the intestinal
wall? [2 pts]

Most food is solid and in the form of large complex molecules which are insoluble and
chemically inert (not readily usable). The process of digestion breaks down insoluble molecules
into smaller subunits which can be readily absorbed into body tissues. The size-specific
permeability of cell membranes can be modelled using dialysis tubing. Dialysis tubing contains
pores typically ranging from 1-10 nm in diameter and is semi-permeable according to molecular
size. Large molecules such as starch cannot pass through the tubing, however smaller
molecules (such as maltose) can cross.

11. Define the following terms:

a. hypotonic solution

A hypotonic tonic solution is any external solution that has a low solute concentration and high
water concentration compared to body fluids. In hypotonic solutions, there is a net movement of
water from the solution into the body.

b. isotonic solution

An isotonic solution is any external solution that has the same solute concentration and water
concentration compared to body fluids. In an isotonic solution, no net movement of water will
take place.

c. hypertonic solution

A hypertonic solution is any external solution that has a high solute concentration and low water
concentration compared to body fluids. In a hypertonic solution, the net movement of water will
be out of the body and into the solution.

d. plasmolysis
 5

Plasmolysis is defined as the process of contraction or shrinkage of the protoplasm of a plant

cell and is caused due to the loss of water in the cell. Plasmolysis is an example of the results of
osmosis and rarely occurs in nature.

e. plasmoptysis

It is when a cell bursts because it has taken in too much water as a result of being placed in a
hypotonic environment through rupture of the cell wall.

12. What is Donnan’s Theory? What is its importance in biophysical chemistry?

The Theory of Membrane Equilibrium in the Presence of a Nondialyzable Electrolyte (1911).

This examined the effect of confining, by means of a membrane, a mixture of ions, one of which
cannot pass through the membrane because of its large size. (In the absence of a membrane,
the equilibrium of a protein with a salt solution is a similar case.) The theory of the Donnan
membrane equilibrium has important applications in colloid chemistry and in the technologies of
leather and gelatin, but above all in the understanding of the living cell, where it can give a
quantitative account of ionic equilibria both within the cell and between the cell and its
environment.
 6

POST-LAB ACTIVITY
RESULTS

Table 1. Description of the various prepared colloidal solution

Colloidal System Observation

Fe(OH)3 sol The color of ferric hydroxide turned to cherry-red from rusty

brown when left to boil in an aqueous solution. No other

changes/reactions were recorded (e.g. supposed appearance of

precipitates) even after letting it cool at room temperature.

Calcium acetate gel The 95% ethanol and calcium acetate mixture quickly formed a

gel substance.

Benzene/water It was observed that benzene is not miscible in water. The water

sinks to the bottom while benzene floats to the top.

w/o detergent The two substances still weren’t mixed and remained in two

separate layers.

w/ detergent The detergent stabilizes an emulsion of benzene in the water.

They formed a cloudy and unclear aqueous mixture.

Cigarette smoke The smoke produced by the lighted cigarette fades out as soon as

we cover the test tube’s open ending. The ignited cigarette was

quickly put out and moist appeared at some parts of the test tube.

Exploratory Question/s:

1. What kind of colloidal system is the Fe(OH)3 sol? How is it formed? What is/are the expected
characteristic/s of Fe(OH)3 sol? Is it lyophilic or a lyophobic system?

The colloidal system of Fe(OH)3 is hydrophobic sol, prepared indirectly with boiling distilled
water by hydrolysis of ferric chloride. The reaction takes place as follows:
(FeCl3​+3H2​O→Fe(OH)3​+3HCl) Its molecular weight is 106.867 g/mol and has a melting point
 7

of 135°C. Color of Iron(III) Hydroxide can range from yellow to dark-brown to black based on
certain conditions like shape, size, structure, etc. It is a lyophobic sol.

2. What kind of colloidal system is the calcium acetate gel? How is it formed? What is/are the
expected characteristic/s of the calcium acetate gel?

Calcium acetate is a chemical compound which is a calcium salt of acetic acid. An older name is
acetate of lime. The anhydrous form is very hygroscopic; therefore the monohydrate
(Ca(CH3COO)2 • H2O) is the common form.

3. What kind of colloidal system is the benzene/detergent mixture? How is it formed? What
is/are the expected characteristic/s emulsion? What is the role of detergent in the preparation of
this emulsion? Is emulsion the same emulsion? Why? Why not?

The colloidal system of benzene/detergent mixture is emulsion. It is a heterogeneous system

consisting of two phases: Dispersed phase and Dispersion medium. If the dispersion medium is
water, the colloidal solutions are called hydrosols or simply sols. If alcohol or benzene is the
dispersion medium, it is called alcosol or benzosol etc. Emulsion can be stabilized by increasing
the repulsion between the dispersed phase i.e., by increasing the electrostatic repulsion (which
is long range) or steric repulsion (short range). Emulsifiers are amphiphiles that reduce the
interfacial tension between the two phases and contribute to the stabilization of dispersed
droplets with electrostatic or steric effects.

4. How would you describe the smoke that was formed from the cigarette? What kind of
colloidal system does cigarette smoke belong to? What is/are the expected characteristic/s of
this colloidal system?

Smoke from a fire is an example of a colloidal system in which tiny particles of solid float in air.
Just like true solutions, colloidal particles are small enough and cannot be seen through the
naked eye. They easily pass through filter paper but colloidal particles are big enough to be
blocked by parchment paper or animal membrane. Hence, smoke is a colloidal system of
carbon dispersed in air.

Table 2. Observed properties of colloidal system

Colloidal Properties Observation

Dialysis
Reaction w/ AgNO 3 White precipitate or cloudiness appeared.
Reaction w/ I2/KI The color of the water adapted the color of I2/KI.
 8

Particle Size
Fe(OH)3 The particle size is relatively small but larger than the CuSO4solution.
Muddy water The particles were separated completely through the filtered paper but
the water remained dirty. Its color appeared somewhat dark, dusty
brown.
CuSO4 solution The solution appeared muddy-like. After filtration, it went back to its
almost original color. The particle size is small or not visible to the
naked eye.
Adsorption
Color before filtration Blue (before charcoal was added); dark blue-black (after adding
activated charcoal).
Color after filtration Colorless, clear.
Tyndall effect
Distilled water The laser’s light was not seen passing through the water although a
point of the laser was seen at the other end of the beaker.
Sugar solution The laser’s light was not seen passing through the water although a
point of the laser was seen at the other end of the beaker.
Drops of milk + H2O A line of light from the laser was seen passing through the beaker.
Viscosity
Distilled water Took the longest in draining. (45.04s)
5% albumin Fastest to drain (15.88s)
Fe(OH)3 sol Close to the draining time of 5% albumin (16.54 and 15.6 seconds)

Exploratory Question/s

5. What is proven by the result obtained with the reaction of silver nitrate with the water in the
beaker? With I2/KI? What is the meaning of semi-permeability? What is permeable and what
and what is not? What determines permeability?

The reaction of silver nitrate with the water revealed the presence of sodium chloride in the
solution by creating white precipitates and making the solution cloudy. On the other hand, the
water only adapted I2/KI’s color when it was added, no other changes were observed.
Semi-permeability is the ability to be permeable to some usually small molecules but not to
other usually large particles, in other words, selective permeability. This was observed in the
experiment when the cellophane bag of starch and sodium solution was left in the beaker with
distilled water for 30 minutes. The cellophane acted as the semi-permeable membrane only
letting some of the small molecules of sodium chloride out of the bag and be distributed with the
 9

distilled water in the beaker. We know this because, as mentioned above, the silver nitrate
reacted with the water and without NaCl in the water, there should be no reaction at all. The
starch wasn’t able to go out of the cellophane bag because of its large molecules, which is a
polysaccharide, and we know this because the water did not turn an inky black color when
added with the iodine solution.

6. What is the Tyndall effect? How is Tyndall effect observed in this experiment? Which of the
three substances exhibit the Tyndall effect? Why do they exhibit the Tyndall effect?

Tyndall effect is the scattering of a beam of light by a medium containing small, suspended
particles. In this experiment, the solution of water (solvent) and milk (solute) exhibited the
Tyndall effect. In the beaker with distilled water and another beaker with sugar solution, any
particles are too small to obstruct the part of light as it passes through so we weren’t able to see
the beam. A colloid, however, has two phases: the dispersed phase (the milk particles) and the
dispersion medium (distilled water). The light was scattered due to the dispersed particles.

7. Account for the difference in color of the filtrate of aqueous methylene blue and that of the
original mixture. What is the importance of the principle of adsorption in a colloidal system?
What determines the adsorbing power of a given adsorbent? Relate this to the colloidal system.

The filtrate of aqueous methylene blue remained blue in color while the filtrate of mixture with
activated charcoal was clear and colorless. The tendency of molecules and ions to adhere to
the surface of certain solids or liquids is called adsorption. Colloidal particles show a high
tendency of adsorption. Thus, colloidal systems provide a large surface area for adsorption of
molecules and ions. Absorption power of a given colloidal system depends on the concentration
of a solution, thickness of the solution layer, nature of a colloidal substance and light
wavelength.

8. How does ‘filterability’ distinguish the particle size of the three given systems in the
experiment?

Particle size is distinguished by the solution's ability to pass through the filter paper. The
experiment reveals that muddy water contains the largest particle size. whereas CuSO4 has the
smallest particle size due to the absence of visible particles on its filter paper. Some particles
were left in the filter paper by Fe(OH)3, but they were much larger than CuSO4 and not as small
as those in the muddy water.

9. What are the factor/s affecting viscosity of a substance? How would these factors account for
the observed viscosity difference of the substance used in the experiment?
 10

The viscosity of a substance is influenced by the shape, size, temperature, and forces of
attraction between the particles. The data above shows how long it takes for the particles to flow
through the pipette based on the experiment. Although the iron (III) Hydroxide was supposed to
be the most viscous among the three substances, it was the one that flowed the quickest and
strain the pipette. I therefore conclude that the pipette’s friction may also have contributed to the
flow of the substances that we tested.

Table 3. Precipitation of Colloids: (a) the number of drops of electrolyte required to precipitate
a colloid; (b) appearance of precipitate formed when two colloids are mixed together

Observation
(a) Precipitation by a electrolyte

Fe(OH)3 sol Required 10 drops to achieve precipitates.

5% gelatin Required 8 drops for precipitates to appear.

(b) Mutual precipitation

Gelatin + Fe(OH)3 When Gelatin and FeOH3 are mixed together, coagulation on
both solutions occurs since they neutralized each other's
charges— all because the former is lyophilic in nature
and the latter is a lyophobic colloid.

Exploratory Question/s:

10. How can electrolytes promote the precipitation of colloids? Discuss the mechanism of
precipitation of colloid by an electrolyte? Which of the two colloids precipitate first? Why?

The electrolyte promotes colloid precipitation by functioning as a binding material since the ions
of the electrolyte adhere to the ions of the participant's particles. As a result of the addition of an
adequate electrolyte, the precipitate was transformed into a colloidal form.

Moreover, the colloid that precipitates first is Fe(OH)3 because the concentration of accessible
water for the protein solution decreases with the addition of (NH4)2SO4, moreover, since 5%
albumin contains more water molecules, precipitating it necessitates a much higher
concentration of salt. On the other hand, Fe(OH)3 is a heavy metal with fewer water molecules
than other metals, thus it precipitates much faster compared to (NH4)2SO4.
 11

11. How can colloids promote the precipitation of another colloid? Discuss the mechanism of the
mutual precipitation of colloids?

Colloid promotes precipitation of another colloid as it is using its isoelectric point. When the pH
of the solution surpasses the isoelectric point, protein molecules become negatively charged
ions that display repulsive forces. As a result, their charge is neutralized, causing uncharged
particles to approach and coagulate or precipitate. Thus, a colloid stimulates the precipitation of
another colloid.

Table 4. Demonstration of Donnan Membrane Equilibrium

System Before standing After standing

Water + NaOH Light in color. Becomes darker.

Gelatin + NaOH Dark in color. Becomes lighter.

Exploratory Question/s:

12. Account for the difference in the color of the two-solutions after 30 minutes. Why is the color
on one test tube lighter, and darker in another? What happens? What is meant by Donnan
Membrane equilibrium?

The cellophane bag that contains water and sodium hydroxide solution reacted to the
phenolphthalein in the beaker appearing darker than it was before standing. The cellophane bag
containing gelatin and sodium hydroxide also reacted by changing in lighter color from its
originally dark hue. This happened because it went through dialysis. The cellophane bag acts as
the semipermeable membrane that selectively lets the smaller molecules pass through one
solution to another, causing the substances to undergo different reactions. In this case, the
phenolphthalein particles had considerably smaller molecules which penetrated the holes of the
cellophane bag and reacted with gelatin+NaOH / water+NaOH in the beaker that changed its
colors.

Because phenolphthalein is now bonded to the gelatin+NaOHmixture inside the cellophane bag
and is not dispersing, the concentration of phenolphthalein in the beaker is lower than it was at
the start of the experiment. Furthermore, Donnan Membrane Equilibrium describes the behavior
 12

of charged particles near a semipermeable membrane that occasionally fail to spread uniformly
across the two sides of the membrane.

REFERENCES:

1. Colloids - Definition, Properties, Types, Examples, Notes. (2019).

https://byjus.com/jee/colloids/
2. Tal Shecter. Suspension vs. Colloid: How do they differ? (2017).
https://www.beei.com/blog/suspension-vs-colloid
3. Stability of colloidal solution.
https://www.vedantu.com/question-answer/reason-for-the-stability-of-colloidal-class-12-c
hemistry-cbse-5f4a85a556e9d474108508bf
4. Walstra, P. (1989). Principles of Foam Formation and Stability. In: Wilson, A. (eds)
Foams: Physics, Chemistry and Structure. Springer Series in Applied Biology. Springer,
London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3807-5_1
5. Lopez MJ, Hall CA. Physiology, Osmosis. [Updated 2022 Mar 18]. In: StatPearls
[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557609/
6. Donnan Equilibrium.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/donnan-equilibrium#:~:text=The%20D
onnan%20equilibrium%20model%20takes,counter%2Dions%20are%20also%20rejected
7. Properties of colloidal dispersion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5XuvmDJIt4.
8. Tyndall Effect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xcpq6e8pB.
9. Donnan Membrane Equilibrium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Th0PuORsWY.