What is the difference between colloids, suspension and true solution?

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2017

Well, a solution is #"homogeneous.........."#

Explanation:

And in an #"homogeneous solution"#, all its components are in the same phase. Consider sugar/salt in water, or dinitrogen or dioxygen in the air we breathe. Both are examples of solutions........

On the other hand, #"a suspension"# is #"inhomogeneous"#. Typically this is a slurry of finely divided solid in water or some other solvent, from which the solid has precipitated.

On the other, other hand, a #"colloid"# is an inhomogeneous mixture of solid and solvent, a disperse phase, in which the particle size of the solid is such that it does not tend to settle. Typical colloids, say milk, have particle sizes from #1*nm-1*mum#.........