Police public school

Mysore
Investigatory project
On
Colloids
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 Colloids
A colloid is a mixture in which one substance of
microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are
suspended throughout another substance. Sometimes the
dispersed substance alone is called the colloid. The colloid
consists of a dispersed phase and a continuous phase.

Unlike solutions, colloids do not constitute a solute

dissolved in the solvent phase. Rather, the solute phase is
dispersed in the solvent phase. The dispersed-phase
particles have a diameter between approximately 1 and
1000 nanometers. Such particles are normally easily visible
in an optical microscope, although at the smaller size range
(r < 250 nm), an ultra microscope or an electron
microscope may be required.

Some colloids are translucent because of the Tyndall

effect, which is the scattering of light by particles in the
colloid. Other colloids may be opaque or have a slight
color.
 Classification of colloids
Colloids are classified on the basis of the following criteria:
(i) Physical state of dispersed phase and dispersion medium
(ii) Nature of interaction between dispersed phase and dispersion
medium
(iii) Type of particles of the dispersed phase.

Based on Physical State of Dispersed Phase and Dispersion

Medium
Based on Nature of Interaction between Dispersed Phase and
Dispersion Medium
Depending upon the nature of interaction between the dispersed phase and
the dispersion medium, colloidal sols are divided into two categories,
namely, lyophilic (solvent attracting) and lyophobic (solvent repelling)

(i) Lyophilic colloids:

The word ‘lyophilic’ means liquid-loving. Colloidal sols directly

formed by mixing substances like gum, gelatin, starch, rubber, etc.,
with a suitable liquid (the dispersion medium) are called lyophilic sols.
An important characteristic of these sols is that if the dispersion
medium is separated from the dispersed phase (say by evaporation), the
sol can be reconstituted by simply remixing with the dispersion
medium. That is why these sols are also called reversible sols..

(ii) Lyophobic colloids:

The word ‘lyophobic’ means liquid-hating. Substances like metals,

their sulphides, etc., when simply mixed with the dispersion medium
do not form the colloidal sol. Their colloidal sols can be prepared only
by special methods (as discussed later). Such sols are called lyophobic
sols. These sols are readily precipitated (or coagulated) on the addition
of small amounts of electrolytes, by heating or by shaking and hence,
are not stable. Further, once precipitated, they do not give back the
colloidal sol by simple addition of the dispersion medium. Hence, these
sols are also called irreversible sols. Lyophobic sols need stabilizing
agents for their preservation.
Based on Type of Particles of Dispersed Phase
Depending upon how different substances forming colloidal solution
acquire the size of particles in this range, colloidal solutions may be
classified into the following three categories.

 Multimolecular Colloids
On dissolution, a large number of atoms or smaller molecules of a
substance aggregate together to form species having size in the
colloidal range (1–1000 nm). The species thus formed are called
Multimolecular colloids. For example, a gold sol may contain
particles of various sizes having many atoms. Sulphur sol consists
of particles containing a thousand or more of S8 sulphur
molecules.

 Macromolecular Colloids:
Macromolecules in suitable solvents form solutions in which the
size of the macromolecules may be in the colloidal range. Such
systems are called macromolecular colloids. These colloids are
quite stable and resemble true solutions in many respects.
Examples of naturally occurring macromolecules are starch,
cellulose, proteins and enzymes; and those of man-made
macromolecules are polythene, nylon, polystyrene, synthetic
rubber, etc.

 Associated Colloids (Micelles):

Certain colloids behave as strong electrolytes at lower
concentrations but exhibit colloidal properties at higher
concentrations. At a particular concentration, the molecules of
dispersed phase align in such a way as to form micellar structures.
 This particular concentration is known as critical micellar
concentration. The colloids that form micelles are known as
associated colloids.

Properties of Colloidal Solutions

Physical Properties
 Stability:

Colloids are relatively stable in nature. The particles of the

dispersed phase are in a state of continuous motion and remain
suspended in the solution.

 Filterability:

Colloids require specialized filters known as ultra filters for

filtration. They readily pass through ordinary filter papers without
yielding any residue.

 Heterogeneous nature:

Since colloids consist of two phases, the dispersed phase as well as

the dispersion medium, they are known as heterogeneous in nature.

 Homogenous appearance:

Even though colloids have suspended particles and are

heterogeneous in nature, they appear as if it is a homogenous
solution. This is because the suspended particles are so tiny that
they are not visible by the naked eye.
Electrical Properties of Colloidal Solutions
The particles of the colloidal solution carry the same type of charge,
while the dispersion medium carries an equal and opposite charge.
The charge on the dispersion medium balances the charge on
dispersed particles and the solution as a whole is electrically neutral.

The dispersed particles of a colloid repel each other since they carry
similar charges and this prevents them from settling down thus
maintaining the stability of the sol. Based on the nature of the
charge, the colloidal sols may be classified as positively charged and
negatively charged sols.

Mechanical Properties: Brownian movement

The dispersed particles present in a colloidal solution exhibit a very
important property called the Brownian movement. When a
colloidal solution is viewed under an ultra microscope, the colloidal
particles are seen continuously moving in a zigzag path.

There is a continuous bombardment of the moving molecules of the

dispersion medium on the colloidal particles from all directions.
This imparts a momentum to the particles to move in a forward
direction where again it collides with another particle. These
collisions result in the random zigzag movement of the colloidal
particle.

The Brownian movement imparts stability to the sol. It opposes the

gravitational force acting on colloidal particles and prevents them
from settling down thus maintaining the stability of the sol.
Preparation of Colloids
Lyophilic colloids readily form a sol by bringing them into contact or by
warming those with the medium due to their strong affinity for the dispersion
medium.
For example: only heating with water in enough for preparing the sols of
starch, gelatin, gum Arabic etc.
But it is not so easy to prepare the sols of lyophobic colloids practically as
they have no affinity for the dispersion medium. Special methods are
required for the preparation of lyophobic sols.
There are number of special methods used for preparation of lyophobic sols
which can broadly be divided in
to following categories.

Dispersion Methods
In dispersion methods, the bigger particles of any substance are
broken down into small particles of colloidal size. The small particles
thus obtained are stabilized by adding some stabilizing agents.
Some of the dispersion methods are discussed below:

Electrical dispersion method (Bredig’s arc method):

 This method is used for the preparation of sols metals such as gold, silver,
platinum etc.
In this method, two electrodes of the metals whose sol is to be prepared
are immersed into the dispersion medium and an electric arc is produced
bas passing high voltage current. The dispersion medium is cooled by
surrounding it with a freezing mixture.
Due the heat produced from electric arc , the metal starts vaporizing and
the vapour condense into the cold dispersion medium to form to the
particles of colloidal size on cooling.

Peptization:
Peptization is the method of breaking down the freshly prepared precipitate
particles into the particles of colloidal size. This is done by adding suitable
electrolytes. The electrolyte added is called peptizing agent.
Brown colored colloidal solution is obtained by addition of Ferric chloride
solution into freshly precipitated ferric hydroxide .This happened due to
adsorption of ferric ions on the surface of precipitate. Accumulation of
positively chafed ferric ions on the surface causes repulsion between them
because of which the large precipitate particles break down into small
particles of colloidal size.

Condensation method
 Some chemical reactions may be used to aggregate smaller particles
of atomic or ionic sizes to form large particles of colloidal
dimensions. The dispersed phase is formed as insoluble reaction
product in these reactions. Here are some important reactions used
forthe formations of hydrophobic sols

 Oxidation:
Sol sulphur is prepared by oxidizing an aqueous solution of H2S with
bromine water or nitric acid or SO2 or any other suitable oxidizing
agent.

 Reduction:
Sols of gold, silver, platinum etc. are obtained by the reduction of
dilute solutions of their salts with a suitable reducing agent. For
example, gold sol can be obtained by reducing a dilute aqueous
solution of gold with stannous chloride.

The gold sol thus obtained is called purple of Cassius.

 Hydrolysis:
Sols of ferric hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide are prepared at
boiling the aqueous solution of the corresponding chlorides.
FeCI3 + 3H2S → Fe (OH)3 + 3HCI

 Double decomposition:
The sols of inorganic insoluble salts such as arsenous sulphide, silver
halides etc. may be prepared by using double decomposition reaction.
For example, arsenous sulphide sol can be prepared by passing H2S
gas through a dilute aqueous solution of arsenous oxide.
As2O3 + 3H2S → As2S3(OH)3 + 3H2O
Purification of Colloidal Solution
The following methods are commonly used for the purification of
colloidal solutions.
Dialysis
The process of separating the particles of colloid from those of
crystalloid, by means of diffusion through a suitable membrane is
called dialysis.
Its principle is based upon the fact that colloidal particles can not pass
through a parchment or cellophane membrane while the ions of the
electrolyte can pass through it.
The impurities slowly diffused out of the bag leaving behind pure
colloidal solution
The distilled water is changed frequently to avoid accumulation of the
crystalloids otherwise they may start diffusing back into the bag.
Dialysis can be used for removing from the ferric hydroxide sol.

Electro dialysis
The ordinary process of dialysis is slow.
 To increase the process of purification, the dialysis is carried out by
applying electric field. This process is called electro dialysis.
The important application of electro dialysis process is the artificial
kidney machine used for the purification of blood of the patients whose
kidneys have failed to work. The artificial kidney machine works on
the principle of dialysis.

Ultra – filtration
Sol particles directly pass through ordinary filter paper because their
pores are larger (more than or ) than the size of sol particles
(less than ).
If the pores of the ordinary filter paper are made smaller by soaking the
filter paper in a solution of gelatin of colloidion and subsequently
hardened by soaking in formaldehyde, the treated filter paper may
retain colloidal particles and allow the true solution particles to escape.
Such filter paper is known as ultra - filter and the process of separating
colloids by using ultra – filters is known as ultra – filtration.
Applications of Colloids
Colloids have varied applications. Some of them include:

 Medicines:
Medicines in colloidal form are easily absorbed by the body tissues
and hence are more effective.

 Cleansing action of soap:

Soap solution is colloidal in nature. It removes the dirt particles
either by adsorption or by emulsifying the greasy matter sticking to
the cloth

 Purification of water:
The precipitation of colloidal impurities present in water can be
done by adding certain electrolytes like alum etc. The negatively
charged colloidal particles of impurities get neutralized by the
Al3+ ions and settle down and pure water can be decanted off.

 Rubber industry:
Latex is a colloidal solution of negatively charged rubber particles.
From latex, rubber can be obtained by coagulation. Rubber plated
articles are prepared by depositing negatively charged rubber
particles over the article to be rubber plated by making that article
an anode in a rubber plating bath