Macromolecular Science I

Module VI: Colloids and

Interfacial Science
Preparation, properties and applications of colloidal system in study

molecules, Microemulsions, Emulsions, Suspensions. Thermodynami

of Interfaces, Surfactants and its properties.

Session Objectives
Colloids
Classification of colloids
Preparation of colloidal sols
Purification of colloidal sols
Important properties of colloidal sols
Emulsions
Identification of emulsion
Preparation of emulsions
Applications of colloids

COLLOIDS

Colloids
Thomas Graham in (1860) has observed that some
material which passes through the ordinary filter
paper
but retained by perchment membrane. These
materials
are amorphous in nature. He called this material as
Colloids.
Kolla means glue and eoid means like
NaCl in benzene behave as colloid.
Soap in alcohol behave as crystalloid.

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 med

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
phase

Solid

Dispersion
medium

Solid

Solid

Liquid

Type of
colloid

Solid
sol
Sol

Solid

Gas

Smoke

Liquid

Solid

Gel

Liquid

Liquid

Liquid

Gas

Emulsio
n
Fog

Gas

Solid

Aerosol

Gas

Liquid

Foam

Example
Some coloured glasses,
and gem stones
Paints, cell fluids, mud
water
dust

Cheese butter, jellies

Milk, hair cream

mist, cloud, insecticide

sprays
Froth, whipped cream,
soap-lather

Pumice stone, foam rubber

Classification based on nature of

interaction
Hydrophilic (Irreversible)

Hydrophobic (Reversible)

Lyophilic (Solvent loving)

Lyophobic(Solvent hating)

1) Inorganic sol, As2S3, Fe(OH)3,

Ag, Au, Pt sols
2) Unstable: coagulated easily

Organic substances:
gum, gelatin, Albumin
Stable: not coagulated

easily
3) Surface tension, viscosity
remain almost same
4) Gel formation suddenly
5) particles are changed

surface tension, viscosity

changes
gel formation easily
particles may or may

not be
charged

Classification based on type

of particles of the dispersed
phase
Multimolecular colloids : Consists of aggregates
of a large number of atoms or smaller molecules
whose diameter is less than 1 nm

Macromolecular colloids: In these colloids, the

molecules have sizes and dimensions comparable
to colloidal particles. For example,
proteins, starch, cellulose.

Dispersed Systems:

Dispersed systems consist of particulate matter (dispersed

phase), distributed throughout a continuous phase
(dispersion medium).

They are classified according to the particle diameter of the

dispersed material:

True solution: Molecular dispersions (less than 1 nm)

Particles invisible in electron microscope
Pass through semipermeable membranes and filter paper
- Particles do not settle down on standing
Undergo rapid diffusion
E.g. ordinary ions, glucose

Dispersed Systems:
2- Colloidal dispersions (1 nm - o.5 um)
Particles not resolved by ordinary microscope, can be detected
by electron microscope.
Pass through filter paper but not pass through semipermeable
membrane.
Particles made to settle by centrifugation
Diffuse very slowly
E.g. colloidal silver sols, natural and synthetic polymers
3- Coarse dispersions (> 0.5 um)
Particles are visible under ordinary microscope
Do not pass through filter paper or semipermeable membrane.
Particles settle down under gravity
Do not diffuse
E.g. emulsions, suspensions, red blood cells

Comparisons between True

solution, Suspension and Colloidal
solution
Property
True solution
Suspension
Colloidal solution
Nature

Homogeneous

Particle
size
Sedimentat
ion
Diffusion

< 109 Ao (1
nm)
Do not settle

Appears to be
homogenous but
actually
heterogeneous
Between
10 Ao (1 nm)
> 1000 Ao (100
to 1000 Ao (100 nm)
nm)
Settle on standing Do not settle

Diffuse quickly

Unable to diffuse

Diffuse slowly

Visibility

Particles
invisible

Filterability

Pass easily
through animal
membrane and
filter
Clearpaper
and
transparent

Particles visible
by naked eye or
under microscope
Unable to pass
through animal
membrane or
filter
paper
Opaque

Particles scatter light

and can be observed
under
ultramicroscope
Pass through filter
paper but not
through animal
membrane
Translucent

Appearanc
e

Heterogeneous

Size and shape of

colloids:

Particles lying in the colloidal size have large surface

area when compared with the surface area of an
equal volume of larger particles.
Specific surface: the surface area per unit weight or
volume of material.
The possession of large specific surface results in:

1- platinium is effective as catalyst only when found in colloidal

form due to large surface area which adsorb reactant on their
surface.
2- The colour of colloidal dispersion is related to the size of the
paticles
e.g. red gold sol takes a blue colour when the particles increase
in size

Size and shape of

colloids:
-

The shape of colloidal particles in dispersion is

important:

The more extended the particle

the greater its
specific surface
the greater the attractive force
between the particles of the dispersed phase and the
dispersion
medium.

Flow, sedimentation and osmotic pressure of the

colloidal system affected by the shape of colloidal
particles.

Particle shape may also influence the pharmacologic

action.

Different shapes of
colloids

Preparation of colloidal
systems
Dispersion method
Breaks
Large particles ------
------------
a) Mechanical dispersion
b) Ultrasonic dispersion
c) Electro dispersion
element
d) Peptization

Condensation method
Condense
Small molecules
a) Excessive cooling
b) Lowering of solubility by
exchange of solvent
c) Passing vapor of an
into a liquid
d) Chemical action
Double decomposition
Oxidation
Reduction
Hydrolysis

Colloid preparation
Mechanical method :Grinding
Disc
Large particle ------------- Suspension --------------
Colloid
mill

Ultrasonic vibration:

H2O
Oil

Colloid preparation
Prepared by Electrodispersion:
I. Physical method (Bridges arc
method)
- This method is employed for obtaining colloidal solutions of
metals e.g. silver, gold, platinum

ice
Dispersion medium
(Water + kOH)

I. Physical method (Bridges arc

method)

An electric current is struck between two

metallic electrodes placed in a container of
water.
The intense heat of the arc converts the metal
into vapours which condensed immediately in
the cold water bath.
This results in the formation of particles of
colloidal size.

Peptization (Reverse of coagulation)

Dispersion of coagulated sol: Freshly prepared ferric
hydroxide on treatment with small amount of ferric
chloride.
Coagulation: Aluminium hydroxide by addition of
small amount of HCl in quantitative analysis.
Milk Paneer (Coagulation by acid or salt) e. g. lemon or
Calcium lactate

Chemical method:
i)Excessive cooling : The colloidal solution of ice in CHCl3
ii) Lowering of solubility by exchange of solvent :alcohol

water

Sulphur/ Phosphorous/ resins etc -----------solution --------------Collo

Phenolphthatein in alcohol -------- white (Colloid)
iii) passing vapor of an element into the liquid :Cold
vapours (Hg) -----------------
Water
(sulphur) Stabilising agent ammonium salts or citrates

Chemical method
iv) Large number of molecules grow to colloidal size
Double decomposition
As2O3 + H2S As2S3 + 3H2O
Boil
Cool
Pass H2S
As2O3 (1gm) + H2O ------------------------------------ colloid
(As2S3)
Gas
Oxidation:
Oxidation
H2S ------------------------H2O + S colloid
HNO3
Oxidation:
[O]
Sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) ---------------- S colloid
HNO3
Br2 + H2S

S + 2 HBr

Colloid preparation by Coagulation

Reduction :-

Reduction
Gold chloride -- 2AuCl3 + 3(SnCl2) -------Au + 3SnCl4
Reduction
H2S + SO2 -----------2H2O +3S

Hydrolysis : FeCl3 + 3H2O ---------- Fe(OH)3 + 3HCl

Colloid preparation
C- Association / amphiphilic colloids
- Certain molecules termed amphiphiles or
surface active agents, characterized by two
regions of opposing solution affinities within the
same molecule.

Types of colloids:
-

At
low
concentration:
amphiphiles
exist
separately (subcolloidal size)
At high concentration: form aggregates or
micelles (50 or more monomers) (colloidal size)

Association colloids

Association Colloids