COLLOIDS Meaning and
Definition
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Colloids are a type of mixture consisting of particles that are dispersed evenly throughout a solvent or medium. The particles in a colloid are larger than those found in a solution but smaller than those found in suspensions. These particles can be solid, liquid, or gas, and they are typically insoluble or only sparingly soluble in the medium.
Colloids exhibit unique properties due to the interaction between the dispersed particles and the medium. They can scatter light, leading to the appearance of a turbid or milky solution. Colloids can also undergo Brownian motion, where the particles move randomly due to collisions with molecules in the medium. This motion helps to keep the particles dispersed and prevents them from settling.
Colloids can be classified into different types based on the phase of the dispersed particles and the medium. Common examples include sols, gels, emulsions, and aerosols. Sols consist of solid particles dispersed in a liquid medium, while gels are colloids in which the medium forms a continuous network throughout the system. Emulsions involve the dispersion of liquid droplets in another immiscible liquid, and aerosols are colloids in which the dispersed phase is a gas and the medium is a liquid or solid.
Colloids have numerous applications in various fields such as medicine, industry, and research. They are used in drug delivery systems, food production, and the manufacture of paints, cosmetics, and photographic films. Understanding the behavior and properties of colloids is crucial for controlling and manipulating their unique characteristics in different applications.
Common Misspellings for COLLOIDS
Etymology of COLLOIDS
The word "colloids" is derived from the Greek term "kolla", which means "glue" or "gluelike substance". The term was first used by the Scottish chemist Thomas Graham in 1861 to describe a class of substances that have an intermediate size between molecules and coarse particles. These substances were characterized by their propensity to form stable suspensions or dispersions in a liquid medium, leading to the name "colloids". The word has since been widely adopted in the field of chemistry to describe this particular category of substances.
Similar spelling words for COLLOIDS
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