Asked in ChemistryElements and Compounds
What is a colloid?
Answer

Wiki User
February 25, 2012 7:02AM
A type of solution of intermediate sized particles suspended and completely dispersed in another substance. Because the particles are not completely dissolved (although dispersed), it may or may not be a homogeneous mixture. Depending on the size of particles, the solution can be either; particles that are less than 10-9 m are homogeneous mixtures, particles that are 10-9- 10-6 m are colloids, and particles that are greater than 10-6 m are heterogeneous mixtures.
Colloids also exhibit the Tyndall effect, in which a beam of light is visible from the side, yet still passes through the solution. (You can see lasers through a mist or fog.)
Classifications:
- Aerosol (liquid disbursed in a gas - fog)
- Foam (gas disbursed in a liquid - shaving cream)
- Solid Foam (gas disbursed in a solid - Styrofoam)
- Emulsion (liquid disbursed in a liquid - butter)
- Gel (liquid disbursed in a solid - jello)
- Solid Aerosol (solid disbursed in a gas - smoke)
- Sol (solid disbursed in a liquid - blood)
- Solid Sol (solid disbursed in a solid - alloy)
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