All the gems and juices you can see in the image above are colloids. Have you felt water droplets in the fog? Yeah! Fog is also an example of a colloid. In fog, water molecules are dispersed in the gas. In the same way, you must have observed many such examples of colloids in your daily life.
So, this article will discuss what colloids are, the properties of colloids and applications of colloids.
What are Colloids?
In chemistry, colloids are heterogeneous mixtures of two substances in which minute particles of one substance are dispersed in another substance. The substance whose minute particles are suspended in another substance is called the dispersed phase, while the substance in which it is suspended is called dispersion medium. For example, in the fog dispersed phase is water (liquid) and dispersion medium is different gasses. We can’t see particles of a dispersed phase in colloids by naked eyes as they are very small in size.
Examples of Colloids
We see many colloidal solutions around us. Many food items such as cake, milk, bread, butter, ice cream, fruit juices, whipped cream etc. are examples of colloids. Apart from these, fog, mist, clay etc., are also examples of colloids. We are providing a list of examples of colloids with their dispersed phase and dispersing medium below –
Properties of Colloids
Colloids show the following properties.
It is a heterogeneous mixture.
The size of colloidal particles is very small. Their particle size ranges between 1-1000 nanometers.
It shows the Tyndall effect. It means it scatters the beam of light and shows its path through itself.
They don’t settle down when left undisturbed for some time. It means colloidal solutions are quite stable.
They cannot be separated by the filtration process.
They can be separated by centrifugation.
Colloidal particles show Brownian movement.
Applications of Colloids
Colloids have various applications in many fields. Some uses of colloids are listed below –
Colloids are used in the foods and food industries at a large level. Many foods which we consume are actually colloidal in nature. Such as milk, cheese etc.
Colloids have various applications in the medicinal field as well. Many medicines which we use are in the form of emulsions. Antibiotics such as penicillin and streptomycin are given in the form of colloidal solutions so that they can be absorbed by the human body easily.
Colloids are used in water purification.
Sewage water contains impurities like dirt, stool, urine etc. which are dispersed in water. Thus, it forms a colloidal system. These can be removed by electrophoresis.
Smoke is also a colloidal system of carbon particles in the air. This can also be purified by electrophoresis.
These are used in artificial rain as well.
Rubber is obtained by a colloidal solution called latex through coagulation.
Treatment of the skin of animals to get leather is called tanning. In the process of tanning, colloids are used.
Micelles formed in the cleansing action of soaps are colloids.
Colloids are used in the form of smoke in smoke screens to hide some things in the military.
The blue color of the sky is due to a colloidal property shown by the sky. Dust particles dispersed in the air scatter sunlight.
Many nanomaterials are prepared by colloids.
These are used in metallurgy during froth floatation.
These are used in the treatment of hypovolaemic patients.
A silver colloid is used as a germicidal agent.
Many colloids are used as anticancer drugs, such as copper colloids.
Colloids are used in the preparation of anti-syphilis antibodies.
Proteins are colloids and are used in various ways.
These are used for targeted drug delivery.
These are used as cosmetic ingredients for many cosmetic products.
These are used as fungicides and pesticides.
These are used in plastic surgery of many body parts.
These are used in dentistry.
These are used in wound dressing materials as well.
This was brief on colloids with emphasis on their applications; if you want to get detailed study notes on the topic colloids, then register yourself on Vedantu or download the Vedantu learning app for Class 6-10 IIT JEE and NEET.
FAQs on Applications of Colloids
1. What are macromolecular colloids?
When biomolecular particles, such as enzymes or proteins, are immersed in a suitable dispersion medium, their particles combine to create solutions and that solution is known as Macromolecular colloids.
2. Give some commercial applications of colloids?
A few of the commercial applications of colloids are given below:
Colloids are thickening agents that are commonly found in lubricants, lotions, toothpaste, coatings, and other commercial products.
Paints and inks rely on colloids for their manufacture. In ball-point pens, gel ink is employed (liquid-solid colloid).
Sulfates of aluminum (alum) and iron, which coagulate the suspended contaminants in natural water, are used to eliminate them.
Colloidal medicines make up the majority of pharmaceuticals. For muscular vitality, colloidal gold and calcium are injected into the human body. As an eye lotion, argyrol (silver sol) is used. Other colloids used in medicine include albumin, hetastarch, and Dextran.
3. What do colloids explain?
Colloids are mixtures in which one or more chemicals are spread as relatively large solid particles or liquid droplets throughout a solid, liquid, or gaseous medium. The particles in a colloid are usually electrically charged, and they remain distributed and do not settle due to gravity.