Solutions, Colloids and Suspensions
DEMO: What is the difference among these three solutions?
Solution: Homogeneous mixture where the solvent dissolves in the solute. The particles are so small (less
than 1 nanometer) they can’t be seen (even under a powerful microscope) and since they’re so small, they
can’t be filtered out. The particles won’t separate over time.
Colloid: Homogeneous mixture with particles that are mixed together evenly but are not dissolved because
they are not small enough to do so. The particles can’t be seen with the naked eye but they CAN be seen
using a microscope. The particles can’t be easily filtered (only through a semipermeable membrane) and
they stay suspended unless separated by centrifugation.
Suspension: Heterogeneous mixture of large particles that can be seen. They will separate over time and
can easily be filtered.
TYPES OF MIXTURES
Type
SOLUTION
Homogeneous or
Heterogeneous
Mixture?
Particle size
Filtration
Sedimentation of
particles
Visibility of Particles
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Effect of Light
COLLOID
SUSPENSION