Colloids Chemistry

Colloids
• A colloid is a heterogeneous system in which one substance is
dispersed (dispersed phase) as very fine particles in another
substance (dispersion medium).
• Colloidal particles are larger than simple molecules but small
enough to remain suspended. Their range of diameters is
between 1 and 100 nm.
• The essential difference between a solution and a colloid is that
of particle size.
• In solution, the constituent particles are ions or small molecules
but in a colloid, the dispersed phase may consist of particles of a
single macromolecule (such as protein or synthetic polymer) or
an aggregate of many atoms, ions or molecules.
 Property True solution Suspension Colloidal solution

Nature Homogeneous Heterogeneous Appears to be

homogenous but actually
heterogeneous
Particle size < 10–9 Ao  (1 nm) > 1000 Ao (100 nm) Between 10 Ao (1 nm) to
1000 Ao (100 nm)
Sedimentation Do not settle Settle on standing Do not settle

Diffusion Diffuse quickly Unable to diffuse Diffuse slowly

Visibility Particles invisible Particles visible by Particles scatter light and

naked eye or under can be observed under
microscope ultramicroscope
Filterability Pass easily Unable to pass Pass through filter paper
through animal through animal but not through animal
membrane etc. membrane or filter membrane
paper
Appearance Clear and Opaque Translucent
transparent
 Classification of colloids

Classification is based on following criteria

 Physical state of dispersed phase and
dispersion medium.

 Nature of interaction between dispersed

phase and dispersion medium.

 Types of particles of the dispersed

phase.
 Classification based on physical state of dispersed
phase and dispersion medium
Eight types of colloidal systems are possible.
Dispersed Dispersion Type of Example
phase medium colloid
 
Solid  
Solid  
Solid sol Some coloured glasses, and gem
stones
Solid Liquid Sol  Paints, cell fluids
 
Solid Gas Aerosol Smoke, dust
 
Liquid Solid Gel Cheese butter, jellies
 
Liquid Liquid Emulsion Milk, hair cream
 
Liquid Gas Aerosol Fog, mist, cloud, insecticide
sprays
Gas Solid Solid sol  Pumice stone, foam rubber
 
Gas Liquid Foam Froth, whipped cream, soap-
lather
 
 Classification based on nature of interaction

Lyophobic colloids (solvent hating colloids )

When metals and their sulphides simply mixed with dispersion
medium, they don’t form colloids.
•The particles are charged and hence move towards electrode in
an electric field.
•Visible under ultra microscope.
•Prepared by indirect methods.
•Viscosity and surface tension are same as that of medium.
• Irreversible.
• For example, colloidal solutions of gold, silver, Fe(OH)3 etc.
Lyophilic colloids ( solvent loving)

Directly formed by substances like gum, gelatine rubber etc.

on mixing with a suitable liquid(the dispersion medium).

• Self-stabilized due to strong attraction between two phases

• Reversible sols
•Particles may or may not migrate in electric field
•Surface tension is much lower and viscosity is much higher than
the medium
•Not visible under ultramicroscope
•Prepared by direct dissolving
• For example, gums, gelatin, starch, albumin in water.
 Classification based on type of particles of the
dispersed phase
1. Multimolecular colloids :
Consists of aggregates of a large number of atoms or smaller
molecules whose diameter is less than 1 nm
Examples: Gold and sulphur sols
2. Macromolecular colloids:
In these colloids, the molecules have sizes and dimensions
comparable to colloidal particles.
Example: proteins, starch, cellulose.
3. Associated colloids
At low concentrations, behave as normal, strong electrolytes
At higher concentrations exhibit colloidal state properties due to
the formation of aggregated particles (micelles)
Examples: Soaps and synthetic detergents
The formation of micelles takes place only above a particular
temperature called Kraft temperature (Tk) and above a particular
micelle concentration called Critical Micelle Concentration
 Multimolecular Macromolecular Associated colloids
colloids colloids

Formed by Formed by large Formed by aggregation of

aggregation of large sized molecules large number of ions in
number of atoms or concentrated solution
molecules (1 nm)
Lyophilic in nature Lyophobic in nature Both lyophilic and
lyophobic in nature
Molecular mass is High molecular High molecular mass
intermediate mass
Held by weak van der Held by stronger van der Waals’ forces
Waals’ forces forces increase with increase in
concentration
Preparation of Colloids solutions

(A) Condensation Method

(B) Dispersion Method
 (A) Condensation methods
Particles of atomic or molecular size are induced to form aggregates.
Following processes are used :

Exchange of Exchange of
solvent physical By Chemical
Colloidal solution state Methods
Colloidal By Controlling
of
condensation
phosphorus solution of (i)Oxidation method
Hg or S is Prussian blue sol is
is prepared
prepared obtained by (ii) Reduction
by addition
by allowing precipitating it
of alcohol
their in presence of (iii) Hydrolysis
into a
vapors to protective
solution of (iv) Double
pass colloids like
phosphorous decomposition
through starch.
in excess
water. cold water.
 (B) Dispersion methods
Bigger or larger molecules are broken down to colloidal dimensions
and dispersing them in a medium.

(i) Mechanical
disintegration (ii) Peptization
By vigorous Process of passing (iii) Electrol-disintegration
of a precipitate into (Bredig’s arc method)
mechanical
colloidal particles Electrical disintegration of a
agitation,, large size on adding suitable colloidal solution, e.g.
molecules are electrolyte is alternating current passed
broken to get coarse known as through a gold solution.
suspension which is peptization
then passed through e.g. Fe(OH)3
colloid mill. Used for solution is formed
preparation of from FeCl3.
Paints, varnishes
etc.
Colloidal mill
Purification of colloids
 Dialysis
• In this process, the colloidal particles
are separated from the impurities
(mainly electrolytes) by the diffusion
through a porous membrane such as
parchment, collodion, etc.
• Sol to be purified is taken in
parchment bag partially immersed in
water.
• Crystalloids come out of the sol but
some amount of water may enter
into the bag.
• Water or solvent is renewed
frequently to avoid accumulation of
crystalloids.
 Electro-dialysis
• To accelerate the slow
process of
purification and also
to achieve higher
degree of purity , the
dialysis is carried out
in a direct current
electric field and the
process is called
electrodialysis.
Ultra-filtration
•In this process the colloidal Buchner funnel
particles are separated by the used in ultra filtration
process of filtration, through a
filter paper, which is impregnated
with gelatin or collodion followed
by hardening in formaldehyde.
•Pores of filter paper become
smaller .
•As a results, electrolyte can pass
but colloids are retained.
•This process of purifying
crystalloids from colloids using
ultrafilters is called ultrafilteration
Properties of colloids
 (1) Physical Properties
(a) Heterogeneous systems:
Dispersed phase and dispersion medium.
(b) Colour:
Colour and appearance depends upon the size, shape,
refractive index of dispersed phase.
(c ) Shape:
Common shape of particles is spherical but highly
asymmetrical shape is also found.
(d) Adsorption:
Colloidal particles are either +ve or –ve charged, so they can
attach variety of molecules to their surface.
Used in adsorption of dyes on fabrics
 2. Colligative properties
• High molecular mass is the characteristic of
colligative particles.
• As a result, in solution number of moles are
very less.
• Colligative properties like osmotic pressure,
elevation in boiling points and depression in
freezing points etc. are very less.
3. Mechanical properties
 Brownian motion
-The zig-zag movement of colloidal
particles continuously and
randomly.

• This brownian motion arises due

to the uneven distribution of the
collisions between colloid particle
and the solvent molecules.
 (b) Diffusion
• Colloidal particles move from region of higher
concentration to lower concentrations until
uniformity is attained.
• Diffusion is used to separate colloidal particles
of different sizes.
 (c ) Sedimentation
• Colloidal particles constantly exhibit Brownian
motion and remain suspended in solution.
• Larger colloidal molecules settle under the
effect of gravity and is called sedimentation.
4. Optical properties
 (Tyndall Effect)
When an intense converging beam of light is passed
through a colloidal solution kept in dark, the path of
the beam gets illuminated with a bluish light.
This phenomenon is called Tyndall effect and the
illuminated path is known as Tyndall cone.
The Tyndall effect is due to the scattering of light by
colloidal particles.
Since the dimensions of colloidal particles are
comparable to the wavelength of ultraviolet and
visible radiations, they scatter these radiations and get
illuminated.
Quite strong in lyophobic colloids while in lyophilic colloids it is weak.
5. Electric properties
 Electrical Properties
Presence of electrical charge on colloidal particles and stability of
sols

Based on the nature of charge, the colloidal sols may be classified as

positively charged and negatively charged sols.
Positively charged sols: Metallic hydroxide sols e.g., Fe(OH)3, Al(OH)3,
Cr(OH)3, etc., TiO2 sol, haemoglobin, sols of basic dyes such as
methylene blue etc.
Negatively charged sols: Metal sols e.g., Au, Ag, Cu, Pt etc. sols,
metal sulphide sols e.g., As2S3, CdS etc. sols; starch sol, sols of
acid dyes such as Congo red etc.
 Electrophoresis
Due to the presence of a particular type of electrical
charge, the colloidal particles present in a colloidal
dispersion move towards a particular electrode under
the influence of an electric field.
The direction of movement of the colloidal particles is
decided by the nature of charge present on them.
The phenomenon is called electrophoresis and may be
defined as “The movement of colloidal particles
towards a particular electrode under the influence of
an electric field is called electrophoresis.”
Coagulation or flocculation

The phenomenon involving the

precipitation of a colloidal solution on
addition of an electrolyte is called
coagulation or flocculation.
Flocculation value
The coagulating power of an electrolyte
is usually expressed in terms of its
flocculation value which may be
defined as
“The minimum concentration (in
millimoles per litre) of an electrolyte
required to cause the coagulation of a
sol is called the flocculation value of the
electrolyte.”
 Gold Number
Covering up of lyophobic particles by lyophilic particles is known as
its protective action and such colloids are called protective colloids.

Gold number is defined as amount of protective sol that will prevent

the coagulation of 10 ml of a gold solution on the addition of 1 ml of
10% NaCl solution.
Smaller the gold number, higher is protective power
 Applications of colloids
1. Sewage disposal
Sewage contain charged dirt particles, which is passed through
tanks fitted with appositely charged electrodes. By
neutralizing the dirt is coagulated.
2. Purification of water
Impure water treated with alum. Al 3+ ions precipitate negatively
charged impurities, bacteria and colloidal particles.
3. Cleaning action of soap
4. In medicine
Colloidal solutions are better assimilated. Blood coagulation is
affected by alum.
6. Artificial rain
Are made by throwing charged sand on clouds
7. Cosmetics
Different types of colloidal systems and emulsions are used in
cosmetics.
8. Purification of polluted air
Smoke is negatively charged consisting of carbon particles. Air
is passed through Cottrell precipitator where charge is
neutralized and air comes out through chimney