What are Colloids?
Colloids are the heterogeneous solutions in which the dispersed phase particles are of size range between 1 to 1000nm distributed evenly in dispersion medium. Colloids are sometimes known as colloidal solutions or colloidal salts. Their particle size is not less than homogeneous solutions (0.1-1nm) and not more than suspension (1000-50000nm). We know that matter exists in 3 forms solid, liquid, and gas. The combination of any of the two forms of matter together forms a mixture of colloidal solutions. Depending on the combination of two different or identical matters, the type of colloid decides. Except for gas-gas colloidal solution is not possible because the gas-gas mixture is homogeneous. Colloids are useful in paints, cosmetics, foods, pharmaceuticals industries. They are an essential part of our day-to-day life.
Phases of Colloids
Dispersed Phase
The phase which is uniformly distributed in a dispersion medium. This is in small proportion same as a solute in a solution. Consider one example of colloidal solution paint. The pigment particles in paint are known as the dispersed phase in colloids.
Dispersion Phase The phase in which colloidal particles are distributed evenly throughout the colloidal solution. This is in large proportion same as a solvent in the solution. The solvent or water in the paint is known as a dispersion medium in colloidal silver.
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