Emulsions and colloids are the same thing?

Answer 1

An emulsion is a type of colloid, but a colloid is not necessarily an emulsion. Other types of colloids include foams and gels.

Answer 2

They are about the same, emulsions are part of (the more general) colloidal sytems.

• A colloid is a substance microscopically dispersed evenly throughout another substance, though it is far from being homogeneously 'dissolved' .

A colloidal system consists of two separate phases: a dispersed phase (or internal phase) and a continuous phase(or dispersion medium). A colloidal system may be pairs of solid, liquid, or gaseous, or mixed pairs of these states of matter.

• An emulsion is a mixture of (specifically) two or more liquids which are normally immiscible (un-blendable).

In an emulsion, one liquid (the dispersed phase) is dispersed in the other liquid (the continuous phase)

Answer 3

An emulsion is where the dispersed phase and the continuous medium are both liquids. Typically the liquids are immiscible. An examples of emulsions are vinaigrette, (vegetable oil and vinegar)

A colloid is a more general term for a dispersed phase and continuous phase system, examples are fog liquid/gas colloid; pumice; gas solid foam. An emulsion is a special case of this.

Answer 4

Colloids are a solution of (at least) 2 phases, 1 continuous and 1 dispersed. The dispersed phase is small particles of between 1 and 1000 nm meaning that they sufficiently and equally mix amongst the continuous phase without separating due to gravity. e.g. smoke, fog, glue etc.

Emulsions are again at least a 2 phase mixture and are generally liquids but the dispersed phase is a grouping of flocculated particles that require to be held together (and separate from the continuous phase) by a surfactant or "emulsifying agent" which decreases the interfacial tension. e.g. milk (milk fat in water with proteins acting as the surfactant), mayonnaise (fat in water with egg yolk lecithin as the surfactant). Without the surfactant the emulsion is unstable and will separate into two phases as a result of gravity, e.g. vinaigrette (vinegar and vegetable oil with no emulsifier)

Answer 5

Emulsions and colloids are similar but not the same. Emulsions are mixtures of two immiscible liquids, like oil and water, where one is dispersed in the other. Colloids are mixtures where particles of one substance are dispersed in another, such as in a gel or a sol.

Answer 6

An emulsion is a type of colloid, but a colloid is not necessarily an emulsion. Other types of colloids include foams and gels.