Colloidal Dispersion

Colloidal Dispersion
● Colloid is a heterogeneous dispersed system in which one

substance is divided into minute particles and disperse throughout

a second substance(usually liquid), this mixture is also called a

colloidal system.

● Example- Glue, starch, gelatine etc are separated from certain

substances i.e. sugar salt etc.

General Characteristics of Colloidal Particles
A. Colloidal size range

B. Particle shape

C. Surface area

D. Surface charge
Classification of Colloids
They are classified into Two types

1) Based on Dispersion medium

2) On the basis of interaction between Colloidal Phases

a) Lyophilic Colloids

b) Lyophobic Colloids

c) Association Colloids
What is meant by Dispersed phase and Dispersion medium ?

The phase that is dispersed or present in colloidal particle shape is

called the dispersed phase. The medium the colloidal particles are

distributed is called the medium of dispersion.

a) Lyophilic Colloids
-
Comparative Account of general properties
Properties of Colloids
 Properties of
colloidal solution

Optical Properties Kinetic Properties Electrical Properties

A. Brownian Movement
A. Tyndall Effect
B. Diffusion A. Electrophoresis
B. Light Scattering
C. Viscosity B. Electro-osmosis
C. Electron microscope
D. Sedimentation C. Streaming potential
E. Osmotic pressure D. Electrical Double layer
1. Optical Properties of colloids

● Obtaining information regarding shape, size, structure &

molecular weight of colloids

A. Tyndall effect -
➔ Tyndall, in 1869, observed that when beam of light
passed through a colloidal solution, the path of light is
illuminated.
➔ The light is scattered due to colloidal solution.
➔ The intensity of scattered light is related to the
difference between the refractive indices of the
dispersed phase & dispersion medium.
B. Light scattering
● It used to get the information on the shape and size of
particles
● Scattering can be described in terms of turbidity, τ .
● The turbidity can be calculated from the intensity of the
scattered light.
● It is also used to determine the molecular weight of the
colloid by using following equation
C. Electron microscope
● Electron microscope is used to yield actual particle
picture.
● They are used to observed size, shape and structure of
colloidal particles.
● The main feature of electron microscope is its high
resolving power
2. Kinetic Properties
Helps in:
a) Predicting the stability of system
b) Determine the molecular weight of particle
c) To study the transport kinetics of colloid particles
Following are the various kinetic properties of colloids,
A. Brownian movement
B. Diffusion
C. Viscosity
D. Sedimentation
E. Osmotic pressure
A. Brownian movement
● There are continuous collision between colloidal particles
& molecules of dispersion medium in constant motion.
● This produced zigzag movement of colloidal particles
which is known as Brownian movement.
● Due to small size particles, the motion of the molecules
cannot be observed.
● Addition of the viscosity enhancing agents such as
glycerine decreases & finally stops the Brownian
movement
B. Diffusion
● Particles diffuses spontaneously from higher concentration
to lower concentration until concentration of system is
uniform throughout.
● Diffusion can be expressed by Ficks first law.
● As per Ficks first law, amount of substance (dq) diffuses in
time (dt) across the plane area (A) is directly proportional
to the change of concentration (dc) with distance travelled
(dx)
● It is expressed as,
dc
dq = –DA — dt
dx
Where

D is the Diffusion coefficient

C. Viscosity
● Viscosity is the resistance to flow of system under an
applied stress.
● The flow of dilute colloidal system is expressed by an
equation developed by Einstein

η = η0 (1+2.5ϕ)
Where,
η0 is the viscosity of the dispersion medium
η viscosity of dispersion
ϕ volume fraction of particles
D. Sedimentation
● Sedimentation is influenced by gravitational force
● Stokes law applied when particles larger than 5µm.
● The rate of sedimentation is obtained by Stokes law i.e.

2r2 (ρ – ρ0)g
v=
9η0

Where,
g is the acceleration due to gravity
v is velocity
ρ is density of spherical particles
ρ0 is density of dispersion medium
η0 is viscosity
r is radius of the particles or droplets
E. Osmotic pressure
● Osmotic pressure of colloidal solution is a colligative
properties useful in determination of molecular weight of
dispersed phase
● Osmotic pressure is described by the van’t Hoff equation

Cg
π= RT
M
Where,
Cg is gram of solute per liter of solution
M is the molecular weight
T is absolute temperature
R is molar gas constant
3. Electrical properties
● Colloid particles are carry charges on the surface either by
ionisation or by adsorption; so the electrical properties are
studied by following properties:
A. Electrophoresis
B. Electro osmosis
C. Streaming potential
D. Electrical double layer
A. Electrophoresis
● The movement of colloidal particles through a liquid under
the influence of electric field is called electrophoresis.
● When applying electric field across the colloidal solution,
the particles migrate to oppositely charged electrode.
● The rate of movement of single colloidal particle is directly
related to zeta potential
● So the velocity or rate of migration in colloidal system is
expressed by following equation
 V=ζxE

Where,

V is the velocity

ζ is the zeta potential

E is the potential gradient

B. Electro osmosis
● Electro osmosis is the opposite principle to that
electrophoresis.
● +ve and -ve charge particles are present in liquid
medium, they are move opposite pole.
● This flow of liquid medium under the influence of electric
field is known as electro osmosis and applied pressure is
called electro osmotic pressure
C. Streaming potential
● This is opposite of electro osmosis
● If the electrodes in the electro-osmosis apparatus are
replaced by galvanometer in the circuit, no current will be
detected when the liquid is stationary.
● If the liquid forced through tube the galvanometer
measure current
● Streaming potential due to displacement of the charges
equilibrated in the double layer around the solid
● This technique can be used to measure the zeta potential
of solids which is sediment rapidly on electrophoresis cell.
D. Electrical double layer
● Some colloid particles have charged on their surface
● If the continuous phase is an electrolyte, ions are attached
to the particle surface.
● This result in a charge layer near the particle surface
which decays exponentially from the surface
● This is known as the electrical double layer
A. Effect of Electrolyte
● Stability of colloids - when we have adding or removing
electrolyte it may affect the stability of colloids
● In case excessive addition of electrolyte in dispersion
medium it causes charged particles create +ve -ve charge
bonding or attract to each other and particles get
deposited due to attraction of +ve & -ve charge, increasing
the molecular weight, surface area and size of particles
● It's known as unstable
B. Effect of Coacervation
● A colloid rich layer will form if two opposite charged
hydrophilic colloid are mixed
● This colloid rich layer is known as coacervate
C. Effect of peptization
● In this unstable or deposited solution are converted in to
stable solution
● On the addition of electrolyte to a freshly precipitated
substance the particles absorbed one particular type of
ions of the electrolyte and get dispersed in to electrostatic
repulsion
D. Effect of Protective action
● When large amount of hydrophilic colloids carrying -ve
charge is combined with +ve charge hydrophobic colloids,
then they form protective sheath around them. This
protective sheath prevent precipitation of particles on
addition of electrolytes.
● This is called protection
● Colloid that are used to stabilize other colloids is called
protective colloids.