• Have particles whose sizes are 
between 1 to 100 nanometers (1 nm 
= 10-9 m). 
• Bridge the gap between solutions 
and suspensions.
PROPERTY SOLUTION COLLOID SUSPENSION 
Particle size 
Appearance 
Separation 
Filterability 
Example 
Less than 
1 nm 
1 to 100 
nm 
More than 
100 nm 
Clear Cloudy Cloudy 
Does not 
separate 
Does not 
separate 
Separates 
or settles 
Passes 
through filter 
paper 
Passes 
through filter 
paper 
Particles do not 
pass through filter 
paper 
Salt 
solution 
Starch 
solution 
Muddy 
water
Analogous to the solute in a 
solution.
Analogous to the solvent in a 
solution. It is the substance in 
which the colloidal particles are 
distributed.
Dispersed 
particles 
Dispersion 
medium 
Name Examples 
Liquid Gas Liquid 
aerosol 
Clouds, fog, 
mist, hair spray, 
deodorant 
spray 
Solid Gas Solid 
aerosol 
Smoke, 
dust in air
Dispersed 
particles 
Dispersion 
medium 
Name Examples 
Gas Solid Solid 
Foam 
Marshmallows, 
rubber foam 
Gas Liquid Foam 
Beaten egg 
white, shaving 
cream, whipped 
cream ice-cream 
soda
Dispersed 
particles 
Dispersion 
medium 
Name Examples 
Liquid Liquid Emulsion Milk, 
mayonnaise, 
blood
Dispersed 
particles 
Dispersion 
medium 
Name Examples 
Solid Liquid Sol 
Paint, starch 
mixture, hot 
chocolate, 
gelatin 
Solid Solid Solid 
Sol 
Colored glass, 
gems like ruby 
and garnet
Dispersed 
particles 
Dispersion 
medium 
Name Examples 
Liquid Solid Gel Cheese, 
butter, 
margarine
The ability of 
a colloid to 
scatter light 
so that the 
beam of light 
becomes 
visible.
The beam of light is not 
visible. (solution) 
The beam of light is 
visible. (colloid)
If a colloid is viewed under a special 
microscope, the dispersed particles 
will be seen moving in a rapid, 
random, zigzag motion through the 
dispersion medium. 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-T9X6FUehM
The ability of a substance to 
physically hold another 
substance on its surface is 
called ADSORPTION.
Colloidal particles adsorb ions 
present in the dispersion 
medium. Depending on the type 
of colloid, the particles attract 
either positive or negative ions 
only not both.
Answer the following: 
A. Give the difference between each pair of terms: 
1. Solution and colloid 
2. Osmosis and dialysis 
3. Solute and dispersed particle 
4. Solvent and dispersion medium 
B. Classify the following colloids: 
1. Fog 
2. Gelatin 
3. Mayonnaise 
4. Milk 
5. Mist

COLLOIDS

  • 2.
    • Have particleswhose sizes are between 1 to 100 nanometers (1 nm = 10-9 m). • Bridge the gap between solutions and suspensions.
  • 3.
    PROPERTY SOLUTION COLLOIDSUSPENSION Particle size Appearance Separation Filterability Example Less than 1 nm 1 to 100 nm More than 100 nm Clear Cloudy Cloudy Does not separate Does not separate Separates or settles Passes through filter paper Passes through filter paper Particles do not pass through filter paper Salt solution Starch solution Muddy water
  • 4.
    Analogous to thesolute in a solution.
  • 5.
    Analogous to thesolvent in a solution. It is the substance in which the colloidal particles are distributed.
  • 7.
    Dispersed particles Dispersion medium Name Examples Liquid Gas Liquid aerosol Clouds, fog, mist, hair spray, deodorant spray Solid Gas Solid aerosol Smoke, dust in air
  • 8.
    Dispersed particles Dispersion medium Name Examples Gas Solid Solid Foam Marshmallows, rubber foam Gas Liquid Foam Beaten egg white, shaving cream, whipped cream ice-cream soda
  • 9.
    Dispersed particles Dispersion medium Name Examples Liquid Liquid Emulsion Milk, mayonnaise, blood
  • 10.
    Dispersed particles Dispersion medium Name Examples Solid Liquid Sol Paint, starch mixture, hot chocolate, gelatin Solid Solid Solid Sol Colored glass, gems like ruby and garnet
  • 11.
    Dispersed particles Dispersion medium Name Examples Liquid Solid Gel Cheese, butter, margarine
  • 14.
    The ability of a colloid to scatter light so that the beam of light becomes visible.
  • 15.
    The beam oflight is not visible. (solution) The beam of light is visible. (colloid)
  • 17.
    If a colloidis viewed under a special microscope, the dispersed particles will be seen moving in a rapid, random, zigzag motion through the dispersion medium. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-T9X6FUehM
  • 18.
    The ability ofa substance to physically hold another substance on its surface is called ADSORPTION.
  • 20.
    Colloidal particles adsorbions present in the dispersion medium. Depending on the type of colloid, the particles attract either positive or negative ions only not both.
  • 23.
    Answer the following: A. Give the difference between each pair of terms: 1. Solution and colloid 2. Osmosis and dialysis 3. Solute and dispersed particle 4. Solvent and dispersion medium B. Classify the following colloids: 1. Fog 2. Gelatin 3. Mayonnaise 4. Milk 5. Mist