Question

What are emulsions? What are their different types? Give examples of each type.

Answer 1

Hint: Emulsion is defined as the colloidal solution in which both the dispersed phase and dispersion medium are liquids

Step by step answer: i) In emulsion, the dispersed phase and dispersion medium are both liquid.
ii) An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible.
iii) There are two types of Emulsion:
a) Oil in water
c) Water in Oil
a) Oil in water: The emulsion in which oil is present as the dispersed phase and water as the dispersed medium. It is commonly known as a continuous phase; it is called an oil in water emulsion.
For example, Milk of the type of oil in water emulsion.
b) Water in oil: The emulsion in which water forms the dispersed phase, and the oil acts as the dispersed medium is called a water in oil emulsion.
For example, Butter and cold cream are typical types of water in oil.
We could further add them to,
i) Oil in water in oil emulsion: Emulsion may be either oil-in water or water in oil.
Technically when generating oil in water in oil emulsions. One phase is mixed into the other, in other words, one liquid serves as a base into which another liquid is added. And the emulsion called is oil in water in oil emulsion.
Its example is milk and butter.
ii) Water in oil in water emulsion: The emulsion consists of internal water droplets dispersed within larger oil droplets in an external aqueous containers phase.
Two steps of emulsions is a reliable method for preparing water in oil in water emulsions.


Note: Don't confuse emulsions with sols and gels they are different from one anothers.
Uses of emulsions:
1) Cleansing action of soaps is based on the formation of emulsions.
2) Digestion of fats in the animal body is done by the process of emulsification.
3) Emulsions are also used in pharmaceutical industries.