INTRODUCTION

1) PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:-
A) Heterogeneous Character
A colloid or colloidal dispersion is a type of homogenous
mixture.
A colloid consists of two separate phases:

 Dispersed phase
 Continuous phase
The Dispersed phases made of tiny particles or droplets that are
distributed evenly throughout the continuous phase.
Homogeneous mixtures with a Dispersed phase in the size
range 1 nm to 100 nm may be called colloidal aerosols, colloidal
emulsions, colloidal foams, colloidal dispersions or hydrosols. If
a colloidal has a solid phase dispersed in a liquid, the solid
particles will not pass through a membrane, whereas the
dissolved ions or molecules of a solution will pass through.
Some colloids are translucent due to Tyndall effect (scattering
of light by particles in colloid).
Some of the examples of colloids include butter, milk, aerosols
(fog, smoke), paints, glues etc. this field of study was
introduced in 1861 by Scottish scientist “Thomas Graham”.
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Natural instability of colloids
 The interaction between molecules of one substance with
another is almost always more high in energy
(unfavorable) than the interaction of one substance with
itself.
 One big lump of clay in a bucket of water is thermodynam-
-ically much more stable than clay particles dispersed
throughout the water.
 A system will move in such a way as to eliminate unfavou-
-rable interaction, i.e. to eliminate surfaces. This is
achieved when the particles stick together, rapidly growing
in size, resulting in flocculation, coagulation and
sedimentation.
 Much of colloids science is devoted to controlling the
stability of colloidal dispersions.
Colloidal Dispersion
 Solute doesn’t completely dissolve in solvent but not
visible to the naked eye.
 Will scatter light – gives an opaque, turbid appearance
 Exhibits characteristics of a molecular solution (Brownian
motion, capacity for diffusion)
 Size 1 nm – 0.5 nm

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 Classification of Colloids

 Colloids can be classified on the basis of interaction

between Dispersed phase (DP) and Dispersion medium
(DM):
 Lyophilic colloids/ Hydrophilic colloids:
i. Strong affinity is present between particles of DP & DM.
ii. It’s reversible because DP & DM can be separated.
iii. It’s stable & don’t get easily precipitated.
iv. When DM is water, it’s called hydrophilic.
 Lyophobic colloids/ Hydrophobic colloids:
i. Very low affinity is present between particles of DP &
DM.
ii. It’s irreversible because DP & DM can’t be separated.
iii. It’s very less stable has tendency to get precipitated
easily.
iv. When DM is water, it’s called Hydrophobic.

 Colloids can be classified on the basis of size of colloidal

particle:
 Multimolecular colloids-
Colloidal particle is aggregate of small atom or molecule in
which particles are held by Vander Waal’s force.
 Macromolecular colloids-

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Colloidal particles are big molecule or atom like colloidal
solution of polymers. This type of colloidal system is very
stable. No need of aggregation or subtraction.

Hydrocolloids-
Hydrocolloids are defined as a colloidal system where in
the colloids particles are dispersed in water. Hydrocolloids
can be either irreversible or reversible.
For example, agar, can exit in a gel & sol state & alternate
between states with the addition or elimination of heat.
Many hydrocolloids are derived from natural sources like
pectin is extracted from citrus peel & apple pomade.
Hydrocolloids are employed in food mainly to influence
texture or viscosity (e.g.- sauce). Hydrocolloids are also
used in skin- care & wound-dressing.

Stabilization of colloidal dispersion:

Stabilization serves to prevent colloids from aggregating.
Steric stabilization & electrostatic stabilization are the two
main mechanisms for colloids stabilization. In a stable
colloids, mass of a dispersed phase is so low that its
buoyancy or kinetic energy is too little to overcome the
electrostatic repulsion between charged layers to
dispersing phase. The charge on the dispersed particle can
be observed by applying an electric field: all particles

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 migrate towards same electrode possessing same sign
charge.

Destabilization of Colloidal Dispersion:

Unstable colloidal dispersion form flocs as the particles
aggregate due to
1) Removal of electrostatic barrier that prevents
aggregation of particles.
2) Addition of a charged polymer flocculent. Polymer
flocculent can bridge individual colloidal particles by
attractive electrostatic interactions.
3) Addition of non-adsorbed polymer called depletants.
4) Physical deformation of the particles (e.g. stretching)
may increase Vander Waal forces more than stabilizing
forces (such as electrostatic), resulting in coagulation
of colloids at certain orientations.

PROPERTIES OF COLLOIDAL SOLUTION

 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Tyndall Effect:
Visible scattering of light along the path of a beam of light as
it passes through a system containing discontinuities. The
luminous path of beam of light is called Tyndall cone. It

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shows heterogeneous nature of solution. This effect isn’t
shown by true solution due to small particle size. Colloidal
solution & true solution are differentiated by this effect.
Brownian movement:
Zig zag motion of colloidal particles in solution is called
Brownian movement. Colloidal particle is bombarded by
particle of dispersion medium & hence rather than following
straight line path follows Zig zag path. Brownian movement
provides stability to colloids as it doesn’t allow the particle to
settle down under the influence of gravitational pull.
 COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES:-
Colligative properties depend upon the number of moles of
solute present in given mass of solvent. It doesn’t depend on
nature of solute particles. Colloidal particles are not simple
molecules, they are aggregation of molecules. Hence, all
colloidal dispersions give low value of osmotic pressure,
depression in freezing point and elevation in boiling point.
Colloidal particles happen to be aggregate. The number of
particles in solution is very small & so all Colligative
properties low under the conditions only osmotic pressure is
suitable for measurement of molar mass.

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 Application of Colloids
 Cleansing action of soaps & detergents:
A micelle consists of hydrophobic hydrocarbon- like central
core. The cleansing action of soap is due to the fact that soap
molecules form micelle around the oil droplets in such a way
that hydrophobic part of the separate ions in the oil droplets
& hydrophilic part project out of the grease droplet. Since
the polar group can interact with water, the oil droplet
surrounded by stearate ions is now pulled in water &
removed from the dirty surface. Thus soap helps in
emulsification & washing away of oils & fats. The negatively
charged sheath around the globules prevents them from
coming together & forming aggregates.
 Purification of water:
The water obtained from natural sources often contains
suspended impurities. Alum is added to such water to
coagulate the suspended impurities & make water fit for
drinking purposes.
 Medicines:
Most of the medicines are colloidal in nature. For example-
argyrols is a silver sol used as an eye lotion, antinomy is used
in curing kaalazar etc. colloidal medicines are more effective

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because they have large surface area & therefore easily
assimilated.
 Photographic plates & films:
Photographic plates & films are prepared by coating an
emulsion of the light sensitive bromide in gelatin over glass
plates or celluloid films.
 Tanning:
Animal hides are colloidal in nature. When a hide, which has
positively charged particles, is soaked in tanning, which
contains negatively charged colloidal particles, mutual
coagulation takes place. This results in hardening of leather.
This process in termed as tanning.
 Rubber industry:
Latex is colloidal solution of rubber particles which are
negatively charged. Rubber is obtained by coagulation of
latex.
 Industrial purposes:
Paints, inks, synthetic plastics, rubber, graphite lubricants,
cement etc., are all colloidal solutions.

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Coagulation of Colloidal Solution
Coagulation is one of the various properties exhibited by
colloidal solutions. A colloid is a heterogeneous mixture of
one substance of very fine particles (dispersed phase)
dispersed into another substance (dispersion medium).
Substances like metals, their sulphides etc. cannot be simply
mixed with the dispersion medium to form a colloidal
solution. Some special methods are used to make their
colloidal solutions. Such kinds of sols are known as lyophobic
sols. These kind of colloidal solutions always carry some
charges on them. Charge present on the colloidal sols
determines their stability. If by any chance we can remove
the charge present on the sol, the particles get closer to each
other and they accumulate to form aggregates and
precipitate under the action of gravity.
This process of accumulation and settling down of particles is
known as coagulation or precipitation.
The process of coagulation can be carried out in the
following ways:
1. By electrophoresis: In this method, the colloidal
particles are forced to move towards the oppositely
charged particles and then they are discharged and
collected at the bottom.

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2. By mixing two oppositely charged sols. In this type of
coagulation equal amount of oppositely charged
particles are mixed, they cancel out their charges and
then precipitate.
3. By boiling: whenever we boil a sol, the molecules of the
dispersion medium start colliding with each other and
with the surface this in turn disturbs the adsorption
layer. This reduces the charge on the sol due to which
the particles settle down.
4. By persistent dialysis: under the persistent dialysis parts
of electrolytes are removed completely and the sol
loses its stability and ultimately.

Coagulation of lyophilic solutions:

Stability of lyophilic sol depends on the following two
factors:-
1. Charge
2. Salvation
When the above two factors are removed then lyophilic
sols can be done by either adding an electrolyte or a
suitable solvent.

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 Hardy schulze rule
The coagulation capacity of different electrolytes is different. It
depend upon the valency of the active ion are called
flocculating ion, which is the ion carrying charge opposite to the
charge on the colloidal particles. “According to Hardy Schulze
Rule, greater the valency of the active ion or flocculating ion,
greater will be its coagulating power” thus,
Hardy Schulze Law state:
i. The ions carrying the charge opposite to that of that of sol
particles are effective in causing coagulation of the sol.
ii. Coagulating power of an electrolyte is directly
proportional to the valency of the active ions (ions causing
coagulation).
For example to coagulate negative sol of the coagulation power
of different cations has been found to decrease in the order as,
similarly, to coagulate a positive sol such as, the coagulating
power of different anions has been found to decrease in the
order:
[Fe(CN)6]4- >PO43- > SO42->Cl-

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