Useful Notes on the Important Properties of Colloidal Solutions

Colloids:

A colloid is an intermediate state of true solution and suspension. A colloid is a heterogeneous system in which one substance is dispersed (disperse phase) as very fine particles in another substance called dispersion medium.

Colloidal particles have sizes between 1 and 1000 nm (10~⁹ to 10″⁶ m). For example, in milk, water is dispersion medium while fats, proteins etc., constitute disperse phase.

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Properties of colloidal solutions:

1. They are heterogeneous mixtures.

2. The size of the colloidal particles ranges between 1 nm to 1000 nm.

3. The path of a beam of light becomes visible while passing through a colloidal solution (Tyndall effect).

4. Colloidal particles cannot be separated by simple sedimentation or filtration.