Colloids are systems that consist of two phases, the continuous phase (dispersion medium) and
the discontinuous phase (dispersed phase). Colloidal systems contain particles larger than solute particles
of a true solution. Hence it may appear homogeneous to the naked eyed but examination of a colloid
under the microscope will show particle movement called Brownian movement. When subjected to a
beam of light in a darkened room, colloids show Tyndall effect. Milk is an example of a liquid colloidal
system. It contains casein (the protein in milk) which contains negative charges on the particle surface.
These charges prevent the particles from coalescing. When acetic acid is added to milk, the H+ released
by the acid neutralizes the negative charges on the particle surface, causing the particles to aggregate and
form a curd.
An appreciation of the different properties of colloids helps in understanding the chemistry of
proteins, food, enzymes, medicines, and fats. Colloids play an important role in digestion, metabolism
and almost all phases of physiological processes.
Role of Gelatin in the experiment:
IT is well known that a solution of gelatin restrains the precipitation of most insoluble substances. It has
also been shown, in a study of the Liesegang phenomenon1, that the gelatin composing a set gel exerts
little or no restraint beyond eliminating mechanical mixing.
The role of the gelatin is to serve as the protective colloid that prevents the coagulation of AgNO3 and
K2Cr2O7, thus the spatial distribution of the slowly forming precipitate will not be continuous.
Gelatin sets on cooling because the hot aqueous mixture of gelatin coagulates as it cools and the whole
mass, including the liquid, sets to an extremely viscous body known as a gel, a colloid in which the
dispersing medium is a solid and the dispersed phase is a liquid.
Brownian Movement:
It is a kinetic property. When colloidal solution are viewed under powerful ultra microscope, then
colloidal particles are moving rapidly is zig-zag directions. This motion was first observed by British
Botanist Robert Brown & hence is known as Brownian movement. (Note-True solution & suspension do
not show this movement.)
This motion can be observed by viewing dust particles in the path of light coming into a dark room
through a small hole. Dust particles are clearly seen as bright spots moving randomly in zig-zag direction.
Reason:
The Brownian movement of particles is due to the unbalanced bombardment of the particles by the
molecules of dispersion medium.
Tyndall Effect:
Tyndall effect is an optical property of colloidal solution. When a convergent beam of light is passed
through a colloidal solution. It is scattered, the maximum scattered intensity being in the plane at right
angle to the path of light. Thus the path of the light is also visible as two cones. This optical phenomenon
was first observed by Faraday but was studied in detail by Tyndall, hence the effect is known as Tyndall
effect.
The phenomenon of scattering of light by the colloidal particles due to which the path of beam is
illuminated by a bluish light when seen at right angle to the path of light, is called Tyndall effect. The two
bright cones indicating the path of light are known as Tyndall cones.
Reason of Tyndall effect:
The size of colloidal particles are smaller than wave length of light, therefore colloidal particles can not
reflect light but scattering of light take place. Hence tyndall effect is due to scattering of light by colloidal
particles.
Tyndall effect is the property of Scattering of incoming light by particles comparable to the wavelength of
light.
This implies that this effect is only shown by colloidal solutions having particle sizes in the range of
nearly 10^-6 to 10^-9 metres. A mixture of milk and water is a colloidal solution because milk itself is a
colloidal solution with fat globules dispersed in water. Adding milk to water just dilutes the colloid a bit
while still retaining all its properties
A solution of Copper Sulphate in water is a “ True Solution “. The ions of the salt are hydrated and take
up interstitial positions between the water molecules whilst having particle sizes way smaller than the
wavelength of light incident on them. As they do not interfere in the passage of light virtue of them being
very small, hence no Tyndall Effect is seen in the CuSO4 solution while it’s seen in the milk- water
mixture.
Deionized Water (We call it "DI water" in the chemistry labs) is just what it sounds like: Water that has
the ions removed. Tap water is usually full of ions from the soil (Na+, Ca2+), from the pipes (Fe2+,
Cu2+), and other sources. Water is usually deionized by using an ion exchange process.
Dialysis, in chemistry, separation of suspended colloidal particles frFom dissolved ions or molecules of
small dimensions (crystalloids) by means of their unequal rates of diffusion through the pores of
semipermeable membranes.
Passage of copper ions can be detected by the presence of a blue color outside the dialysis bag, passage of
skim milk particles can be detected by turbidity outside the dialysis bag.
Silver nitrate (AgNO3)
Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7)
Humic Acid Colloid (HAc)
Copper Sulfate (CuSo4)
