Colloidal dispersions

Definition

Colloidal dispersions are mixtures where fine particles are dispersed within a continuous medium without settling out. These particles range in size from 1 to 1000 nanometers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Colloidal dispersions exhibit the Tyndall effect, scattering light when it passes through them.
2. They can be classified based on the states of the dispersed phase and the dispersion medium (e.g., aerosols, emulsions).
3. The particles in colloidal dispersions do not settle out due to Brownian motion.
4. Electrostatic stabilization and steric stabilization are two common methods for stabilizing colloids.
5. Colloids can be separated by techniques like centrifugation but not by simple filtration.

Related terms

Tyndall Effect:

The scattering of light by particles in a colloid or in very fine suspension.

Brownian Motion:

The random movement of particles suspended in a fluid, resulting from their collision with fast-moving molecules in the fluid.

Emulsion:

A type of colloid consisting of two immiscible liquids where one liquid is dispersed as droplets within the other.