CHEMISTRY

Assignment
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Colloids

Colloidal systems consists of finely divided particles of any substance dispersed in any medium.
Ink, milky dispersion of sulphur, clays and humus, shaving cream, glue and blood serum are all
examples of colloids. Generally, these are smaller than coarse filterable particles but larger than
atoms and small molecules. The colloidal particles have dimensions in the range of 0.000001 0.00005
nm.
Colloidal particles are invisible under ordinary microscopes and pass through the pores of ordinary
filter paper. The dispersed phase can be liquid, solid or ga. For example: emulsions are composed
of liquid particles dispersed in another liquid. Foams contains bubbles of gas in liquid or solid.
Definition of Colloids : A colloidal system is defined as a two phase heterogrenous system in
which one phase is dispersed in a fine state of sub-division into another phase called i9persion
medium as such i.e., dispersed phase + dispersion medium = colloidal system.
Differences Between Suspension, Colloidal Solution

CHEM ACADEMY
Property
Particle Size
Filtration separation
Suspension
>160 nm
Possible
Colloidal Solution
1 to 100 nm
Not possible
Solution
< 100 nm
Not possible
Settling of Particles Settle on their Own Settle on centrifugation Do not settle
Appearance Opaque Transparent Transparent
Tyndall Effect Shows Shows Does not Show
Diffusion of Particles Do not Diffuse Diffuse only Diffuse rapidly
Brownian movement May show Shows May or may not show
nature Heterogeneous Heterogeneous Homogeneous

Dispersed Dispersion Name Examples

phase medium
Solid Solid Solid  sol Ruby glass, alloys
Solid Liquid Sol paint,ink
Solid Gas Acerosol Smoke, haze
Liquid Solid Gel Curd, cheese
Liquid Liquid Emulsion Milk, Cream
Liquid Gas Liquid Aerosol Cloud, mist
Gas Solid Solid form Cork, pumicestone
Gas Liquid Foam Froths of air
CLASSIFICATION OF COLLOID
1. Classification Based on Affinity of Dispersed Phase for Dispersion Medium
Depending upon the nature of interactions btween dispersed phase and dispersion medium,
colloidal solution can be classified as lyophilic (liquid-loving) and lyophobic (liquid-hating)
Lyophilic colloids. These are the colloidal solutions in which the particles of the dispersed

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 phase have great affinty (love) for the dispersion medium. In case water acts as the to the
strong attractive forces operating between the two phases. These reversible in nature, gum,
relation and starch form lyophobic (lyophobic sol.)
Lyophobic Solution: These are the cenoidal solutions in which particles of the dispersion phase
have no affinity for the dispersion medium. Such solutions are relatively less stable and are notesily
prepared. These can be easily precipitted by heating the solution or on adding small amount
ofelectrolyte to it. These are irreversible. Colloidal solutions of gold, silver, Fe(OH)3, are lyophobic.
Lyophobic soles need stabling agents for their preservation.
Preparation Can be easily prepared by direct Prepared only by special
mixing methods

Nature Reversible Irreversible

Size of particles Comparable size as true Particles constitute

aggregates of molecules

Stabilization Self stabilized Less stable and require

traces of stabilizers

Visibility Particles are not visible even Particles are visible under
under ultra microscopy ultra microscope.

Viscosity Viscosity is much higher than that Same viscosity as of

of dispersion medium dispersion medium

Surface tension It is less than that of dispersion Same viscosity as of

medium dispersion medium

CHEM ACADEMY
Action of electric
Field
Particles may move towards Particles may move
anode or cathode or many not towards cathode or anode
move at all depending upon the charge

Action of electrolyte For coagulation of sol, large For coagulation, small

amounts of electrolytes are amounts of electrolytes are
required required

Tyndall effect It does not exhibit Tyndall effect Exhibits Tyndall Effect

Colligative Have high values of colligative These show high osmotic

Properties properties, such as osmotic pressure less elevation in
pressure, elevation in b, pt, b.pt and low depression in
depression in f, pt etc f.pt

Charge Little or no charge on particles Particles carry positive or

negative

Solvation Particles generally solvated No solvation of particles

Classification Based upon Molecular size : Depending upon the molecular size, colloids are
of three types.
Multimolecular Colloids: These are the sols in which the particles of dispersed phase consist of
aggregate of large number of atoms or small molecules having molecular size less than 1nm (1nm
= 109m) and the aggregate has dimensions of colloidal size. In these colloids, the particles are held
together b van der Wasl’s forces. Some examples of such colloids are (i) soles of gold atoms (ii)
platinum of (iii) sulphur sol. Sulphur sol consists of particles containing a thousand or more S
molecules.
Macromolecular Colloids: In this type of colloids, individual molecules have very large size,
which of colloidal dimension. The macromolecular constituting the dispersed place are generally

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polymers having very high molecular weights. Naturally occuring macromolecular proteins, enzymes,
gelatin, starch, cellulose, etc., arfificial macromolecules are polythene, polystyrene, nylon etc. Since
the particles size in case of macromolecules is comparable to those of colloids solutions of
macromolecular substances are macromolecular colloidal solutions. Dispersions of macromolecules
are quite stable and resemble true solution in many respects. Thus, common examples of
macromolecular colloids are (i) Proteins (ii) Starch (iii) Cellulose (iv) Plastic (v) Enzymes.
Associated Colloids or Micelles: These are the substances whcih behave as normal electrolytes at
low concentration nut as colloids at higher concentration. It is becasue these form aggregated
(associated) particles called micelles at hgiher concentration. The micelle formation takes place
only above a particlular concentration called critical micelle concentration (CMC) and above a
particular temerpature called Kraft temperature (Tk). On dilution, these colloids again behaveas
electrolytes. These colloids have lyophilic as well as lyohobic part. Micelles may contain as many
as 100 molecules are more. Common examples of this type are surface active agents such as soaps
and synthetic detergents. For soaps, the CMC is 10–4 to 10–4 molL–1.
Multimolecular Colloids Macromolecular Colloids Associated Colloids
(a) They are formed by the (a) They are molecules of large (a) They are formed by the
aggregation of a large size aggregation of a large
number of atoms or number of ions in
molecules which generally concentrated solution
have diameters less than 1
nm.
(b) Examples-sols of gold and (b) Examples- polymers like (b) Examples- soap solution
sulphur rubber, nylon, starch

(c) CHEM ACADEMY

Their molecular masses are (c) They have high molecular (c)
not very high masses
Their molecular masses
are generally high
(d) Their atoms or molecules are (d) Due to long chain, the van (d) Higher is the
held together by weak van der Waal’s force holding concentration, greater are
der Waal’s force them are comparatively the van der Waa’s forces
stronger

Preparation of Colloidal Solutions:

(a) Preparation of Lyophilic Sols : Hydrophilic colloids such as starch, gum, gelatin, e t c ,
from colloidal solution when warmed or left in contact with water for a line time. The particles
are already of colloidal size and they are readily dispersed in water formeing colloidal solution.
Sols of water insoluble high molecular weight compound may similarly be obtained by their
dispersal is suitable liquids.
(b) Preparation of Lyophobic Sols: Lyophobic solutions cannot be prepared by direct mixing of
dispersed phase and the disperson meiudm. These are prepared by using special techniques.
The methods emplyoed for the preparation of lyohobic colloids fall into two categories.
(i) Dispersion method in which larger macro-sized particles are broken down to colloidial size.
(ii) Condensation methods in which particles of colloidal size are produced by aggregation of
single ions or molecules.
A. Dispersion Methods
(1) Bredig’s Electric Arc Method: This method is emplyoed to prepare sols of metal such as
copper, silver, gold or platinum. The two electrodes used in this method are made of the metal
whose sol is to be prepared. The electrodes are immersed in dispersion medium such as water.

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 The dispersion medium is cooled by immersing the container in an ice both and a trace of
alkali is added. An are in struck between the metal electrodes vapourises some of the metal
and the vapour condenses immediately in the dispersion medium to give colloidal solution.
The trace of added alkali helps to stabilize the sol.

(2) Mechanical Dispersion : It is done with the help of a colloid mill. The mill consists of two
steel discs with a small gap betweem them. The discs rotates in opposite direction at high
speed. The substance whose sol is to be prepared is first ground as finely as possible and then
shaken with the dispersion medium to get a suspension. The suspension is now added to the
colloid mill. The speed of the rotating discs is adjusted to that the particles of the suspension
are broken to produce the particles of colloidal size.

CHEM ACADEMY

Ultrasonic Dispersion : Sound waves having frequency more than that of the audible sound
are called ultrasonic waves. These waves can produce particles of colloidal size from coarse
suspension. This method is used to prepare a sol of mercury in water.

(3) Ultrasonic Dispersion Process : The ultrasonic waves produced from a quartz generator
propagate through the oil and strike the beaker containing mercury under water. The ultrasonic
waves transfer their energy to the atoms of mercury. Mercury gets vapourised and the vapours
disperse in water producing colloidal solution. This is the latest method for the preparation of
metal sols from their coarse suspension.

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 (4) Peptization: The process, which involves the conversion of freshly prepared precipitate into
colloidal solution by the addtiion of a suitable electrolyte is called peptization. The electrolyte
added is called peptizing agent or dispersion agent. For example, if freshly prepared ferric
hydroxide precipitate is treated with a small quantity of FeCl3 (electrolyte) solution, a dark
reddish brown colloidal solution of Fe(OH)3 is formed. Here FeCl3 is a peptizing agent. This
process is reverse of coagulation. Similarly, a colloidal solution of Al(OH)3 is obtained when
freshly precipated Al(OH)3 is treated with a small quantity of dilute HCl (acid added being
insufficient to convert hydrodroxide completely into chloride)

FeCl3
Fe(OH)3

Freshly precipitated Colloidal particles of

Fe(OH)3 Fe(OH)3

Cause of Peptization : The peptizing action is due to preferential adsorption of one of the
ions of the electrolyte which then gives to the colloidal particle as postiive or negative charge.
For example Fe(OH)3 absorbs Fe3+ ions from FeCl3 peptizing agent and there gets a positive
charge on the surface. Particles carrying similar charges get seprated yielding smaller sized
colloidal particles of the type Fe(OH)3Fe3+.
Condensation or Aggregation Methods

CHEM ACADEMY
(1) Lowering of solubility by Exchange of Solvent : In this method, a substance is dissolved in
a solvent and then the solution is added to another solvent in which it is less soluble. For
example if an alcoholic solution (tree solution) or sulphur is added in excess of water, a
colloidal solution of sulphur results. Sulphur in insoluble in water.
(2) Passing Vapours of an Element into a Liquid : When the vapours of an element are passed
through a liquid condensation takes place to give a colloidal solutin. For example, colloidal
suitablestabilising agents such as ammonium salts or citrates. Sulphur sol can also be prepared
by using a similar procedure.
(3) Excessive Cooling : The method can be used to get colloidal solution if ice in an organic
solvent like chloroform or ether. A solution of water in the required solvent is frozen. The
molecules of water, which can no longer in the solution, get together to form particles of
colloidal size.
Q.1 Dispersion of a solid in a liquid, a liquid in a gas and a liquid in a liquid are respectively known as
[NET June 2012]
(a) Aerosol, emulsion, sol (b) Sol, aerosol, emulsion
(c) Emulsion, sol, aerosol (d) Aerosol, sol, emulsion
Q.2 Flocculation value of K2SO4 is much less than that of KBr for Sol A. Floccultion value of CaCl2 is
much less than that of NaCl for Sol B. Which of the following statements is correct?
[NET Dec 2011]
(a) Sol A is negatively charged and Sol B is positively charged
(b) Both the sols are negatively charged
(c) Sol A is positively charged and sol B is negatively charged
(d) Both the sols are positively charged
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Q.3 The aggregation of surfactant molecules is known as
[NET June 2013]
(a) Micelles (b) Clusters (c) Gel (d) Colloid
Q.4 The surface tension of a liquid does not change when
[NET June 2014]
(a) A solute is added (b) The temperature is changed
(c) Surface area is changed (d) Vapour pressure is changed
Q.5 When river water containing colloidal clay flows into the sea, the major cause of silting is
[NET June 2016]
(a) Accumulation of sand at the bottom
(b) Flocculation and coagulation
(c) Decreased salinity of sea water
(d) Micellization

ANSWER KEY
1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (c)

5. (b)

CHEM ACADEMY

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