Colloids Around Us

Depending on the size of both the solute particles, liquids are categorized as genuine solutions, suspensions, or colloids. A colloid is a liquid in which the particle size of the solute varies between 1 and 1000 nanometres. It’s a heterogeneous mixture made up of two or more components. The dispersed particles are more significant than that of the solute particles in a real solution and smaller than those in suspensions.

Colloidal Components

The dispersion portion, also known as the dispersion medium, is the colloidal medium, whereas the phase separation is the other element. Water, for instance, is the dispersion medium in milk, whereas lipids, proteins, sugar and others are the dispersed phases.

Colloids are divided into several categories.

The following is a list of colloids and their classification:

On dispersed phase’s or dispersion medium’s physical state

Whenever the dispersion medium is hard, the colloidal is called a gel. When the dispersion media consists of both liquid and gas, the colloid is a sol. The dispersed phase and the dispersion medium would’ve been liquids in an emulsifier.

These connections are between the dispersed phase and the medium-based dispersion.

Lyophilic Colloids

As the name implies, lyophilic colloids have significant interactions between two components (liquid-loving or solvent-attracting).

When gum, gelatin, and starch are combined with a liquid solution as a dispersion medium, colloidal sol, also referred to as lyophilic sol, is formed.

Colloids that are lyophobic

The term ‘lyophobic’ means ’solvent-hating,’ meaning there is minimal contact between the two phases in these sols. Metals and their sulfides don’t produce colloidal sol once mixed with the dispersion medium. They can’t just be formed by combining the two phases.

Based on a dispersed phase’s particle type

• Colloids with several molecules

Sulfur sol, colloid examples are made up of a vast number of molecules grouped in aggregates.

• Colloids with macromolecular structure

A single big molecule, such as polythene, is dispersed in a liquid to form colloids.

• Colloid associates

At low concentrations, these colloids function like conventional electrolytes, but at high levels, they become colloids. The creation of micelles, prevalent in soaps and detergents, is responsible for all of this.

Colloids’ Characteristics

The following are the qualities of colloids around us. 

Stability:

In their native condition, colloids are reasonably stable. In the dispersed phase, all particles are constantly shifting and remain suspended in the solutions.

Filterability:

Filtration of colloids necessitates the use of ultrafilters, which are specialized filters. They flow through standard filter papers with ease and leave no waste.

Appearance:

Colloids are heterogeneous because they have two stages: the dispersed phase and the dispersion medium, and yet those that seem to be a homogeneous solution on the surface. That’s because the suspended particles are so tiny that they have been invisible to the human eye.

Colligative properties:

The number of moles of solute molecules present in a sample determines osmotic pressure, boiling point elevation, and other properties of a solution. Compared to actual solutions levels at the same classes, these colligative features are of low order.

The Tyndall effect: 

The Tyndall effect appears to be caused by colloidal particles scattering light. The Tyndall effect does not exist inaccurate solutions. Because the diameters of colloidal particles were equivalent to the wavelengths of UV and visible radiations, they scatter and illuminate.

The Brownian movement:

Brownian movement refers to the zigzag motion of colloidal particles. The action of the dispersion medium molecules here on molecules of a dispersed phase seems to be the reason for all of this.

Electrophoresis:

In a magnetic field, colloidal particles migrate towards their respective electrodes. It is also called cataphoresis and is used to evaluate the colloid’s charging.

Charge:

Colloidal particles have such an electrical charge that is unique to them. The colloidal solution will have the same charge as the dispersion medium. However, the dispersion medium does have an opposite and equal charge. As a result, the expenses on protective colloid particles are balanced by either the charge on the dispersion medium or the charge on the colloidal particles themselves, resulting in an uncharged colloidal dispersion.

Colloids are all around us.

The following are some intriguing colloids around us. 

• The sky’s color is blue:

The sky looks blue because dust particles and water floating in the air scatter blue light reaching our eyes.

• Rain, fog, and mist:

Moisture is from condensing on the particles’ surfaces whenever an enormous amount of air-contained clouds of dust gets cooled well below its typical dew point, generating tiny droplets. So because droplets are colloidal, it continues to float as fog or mist within the air. Clouds are tiny droplets of water floating in the air that form aerosols. Condensation in the earth’s atmosphere causes colloidal drops of water to grow in size until they fall like raindrops. If two oppositely charged clouds contact, rain can fall.

Articles on food

Here are some Colloid examples of food items.

Blood:

Albumin protein contains respiratory pigments that are water-soluble. The pigmented system utilizes albumin as that of the phase separation and uses water as a dispersion medium.

Soils:

Humus acts as a protective colloid infertile soil, colloid in nature. Because of its colloidal nature, soil collects moisture and nutritious ingredients.

The delta’s formation:

A colloidal clay solution can be found in river water. Seawater contains a wide range of electrolytes. The electrolytes from seawater cause the colloidal solution of clay to solidify, producing its deposition and creating the delta whenever river water joins seawater.

Conclusion

We learned in this post that a colloidal is a heterogeneous solution that seems to be homogeneous. It’s a sort of solution in which the solute particle size spans from 1 to 1000 manometers. We also looked at the many categories of colloids due to their physical state, substance nature, or particle types. We now understand several of the essential aspects of colloids, such as the Tyndall effect, Brownian movement, electrophoresis, and colloids’ applicability in various sectors.