Colloids
Colloids
Colloids (pronounced: /kɒlɔɪdz/) are a category of chemical substances featuring a mixture in which one substance of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. The term originates from the Greek word "κόλλα" (kolla), meaning "glue" and the suffix "-oid", meaning "like" or "resembling".
Types of Colloids
Colloids can be classified into several types based on the nature of interaction between the dispersed phase and the dispersion medium. These include:
- Aerosols: A colloidal system with a gas as the dispersion medium and solid or liquid as the dispersed phase.
- Sols: A colloidal suspension with solid particles in a liquid.
- Emulsions: A colloidal system of two or more immiscible liquids where one liquid contains a dispersion of the other liquids.
- Foams: A colloidal dispersion of a gas in a liquid or solid medium.
- Gels: A colloidal system where the dispersed phase (solid) is combined with the continuous phase (liquid) to produce a viscous jelly-like substance.
Properties of Colloids
Colloids exhibit several unique properties, including the Tyndall effect, Brownian motion, and the ability to form colloidal crystals. These properties are largely due to the large surface area of the dispersed particles and their interaction with the dispersion medium.
Applications of Colloids
Colloids have numerous applications in various fields such as chemistry, pharmacy, medicine, environmental science, and nanotechnology. They are used in the manufacture of cosmetics, paints, detergents, and food products. In medicine, colloids are used in drug delivery systems and diagnostic imaging.
See Also
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