Topic : Surface Chemistry

Colloidal Solutions

Submitted to : mrs. shilpa gawali

Made by : Manpreet kaur
Class : XII-S5
Roll no. : 37
Abstract…………………………………………..……………………………………………………………...1

Introduction…………………………………..……………………………………………………………….1

Classification of colloids………………………………………………………………………………….2

Preparation of colloids………………...………………………………………………………………….3

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………9
A colloid is a mixture in which one substance of microscopically dispersed insoluble
particles is suspended throughout another substance. Owing to this peculiar
structure of colloid, it has varied physical and chemical properties. Let us explore
more about the physical, chemical, optical as well as electrical properties of
colloidal solutions.

Colloids exhibit a phenomenon known as the Tyndall effect observed by Tyndall in

1869. When we pass an intense converging beam of light through a colloidal
solution kept in dark, the path of the beam gets illuminated with a bluish light. This
phenomenon of scattering of light by colloidal particles is called Tyndall effect and
the illuminated path is known as Tyndall cone. The dispersed colloidal particles
scatter the light falling on them resulting in emissions that are comparable to
ultraviolet and visible radiations. These scattered radiations get illuminated.

The size of the particles which form homogenous or true solution is less than 10-7
cm while the size of particles which form heterogeneous solution is greater than 10-
4 cm. The intermediate state between these two is called Colloidal State of matter.
It is also called hydrophobic sol (if water is used as medium). It is the suspension of
hydrophobic (a water repelling) substance, which contains non-polar groups in
water. This includes dispersal of oil, fats, metal oxide, hydroxide, sulphide, etc, in
water. These sols are quite unstable & require a small amount of electrolyte
(stabilizer) for their stabilization.

It is also called hydrophilic sol (if water is used as medium). It is the suspension of
hydrophilic (water loving) substance which contains polar groups in water. For
example, substances like gum, albumin, gelatine, etc. These sols are quite stable i.e.
require no stabilizer.
Lyophilic sols may be prepared by simply warming the solid with liquid dispersion
medium. E.g. Gum with water. On the other hand, lyophobic sols have to be
prepared by special methods. These methods fall into two categories;

 Condensation or Aggregation Methods.

 Dispersion Methods.

These methods consists of chemical reactions or change of solvent whereby the

atoms or molecules of the dispersed phase appearing first, aggregate to form
colloidal particles. The conditions (temp., conc. etc) used are such as permit the
formation of sol particles but prevent the particles becoming too large and forming
precipitate.
The important chemical methods for preparing lyophobic sols are as follows;

Double Decomposition:

An Arsenic Sulphide (AS2S3) sol is prepared by passing a slow stream of hydrogen

sulphide gas through cold solution of arsenious oxide (AS2O3). This is continued till
a yellow colour of sol attains maximum intensity.

AS2O3 + 3 H2S-------->AS2S3 (Yellow Sol) + 3H2O

Sols of silver halide are obtained by mixing dilute solutions of silver salts and alkali
halides in equivalent amounts. Silica gel sol is prepared by this method between
dilute solutions of sodium silicate and HCl.

Oxidation :

A Colloidal sol of sulphur can be obtained by passing hydrogen Sulphide into

solution of sulphur dioxide in water or through a solution of an oxidising agent
(Bromine water, nitric acid).

SO2 +2H2S-------->3S+2H2O

H2S + (O)-------->S + H2O

Reduction :

A colloidal solution of a metal like silver, gold and platinum can be prepared by
reducing their salt solutions with suitable reducing agents, such as stannous
chloride, formaldehyde, hydrazine, tannic acid etc.

2AuCl3 + 3SnCl2--------> 2Au (Gold sol.) + 3 SnCl4

or AuCl3 + Tannic acid-------->Au (Sol.)

Hydrolysis :

The method is used to prepare hydroxides and oxides of weakly electropositive

metals like Fe, Al or Sn. A red sol of ferric hydroxide, is obtained by adding few
drops of 30% ferric chloride solution to a large volume of almost boiling water and
stirred with a glass rod.FeCl3 +3H2O-------->Fe(OH)3 (Red Sol.) + 3HCl.
By Exchange of Solvent :

When a true solution is mixed with an excess of the other solvent in which the
solute is insoluble but solvent is soluble, a colloidal solution is obtained. For
Example, when a solution of sulphur in alcohol (ethanol) is added to an excess of
water, a colloidal solution of sulphur is obtained due to decrease in solubility.

By Excessive Cooling :

The colloidal solution of ice in an organic solvent such as CHCl3 or ether can be
obtained by freezing a solution of water in the solvent. The molecules of water
which can no longer be held in solution separately combines to form particles of
colloidal size.

In this method large particles of the substances are broken, into particles of
colloidal dimensions in presence of dispersion medium. Since the sols formed are
highly unstable. They are stabilized by adding some suitable stabilizer. Some of the
methods employed for carrying out dispersion are as follows:
Mechanical Dispersion

In this method, the coarse particles along with dispersion medium is brought into
colloidal state by grinding it in colloidal mill, ball mill or ultrasonic disintegrator.
The solid particles along the dispersion medium are fed into the colloidal mill. The
mill consists of two steel plates nearly touching each other and rotating in opposite
directions with high speed (7000 rev/min). The solid particles are torn off to
colloidal size and are then dispersed in liquid to give the sol colloidal graphite
(lubricant) and printing inks are made by this method. Recently, a mercury sol has
been prepared by disintegrating a layer of mercury into sol particles in water, by
means of ultrasonic vibrator

Bredig’s Arc Method :

This process involves dispersion as well as aggregation. Colloidal solutions of

metals such as gold, silver, platinum etc. can be prepared by this method. In this
method electric arc is struck between electrodes of metal immersed in the
dispersion medium. The intense heat produced vapourises some of metal, which
then condenses to form particles of colloidal size.
Peptisation :

Peptisation may be defined as the process of converting a precipitate into colloidal

form by shaking it with dispersion medium in the presence of small amount of
electrolyte. The electrolyte used for this purpose is called Peptizing Agent. This
method is applied, generally, to convert fresh precipitate into colloidal solution
because such precipitates are simply clusters of particles of colloidal size held by
weak forces.

CAUSE OF PEPTISATION

During peptisation, the precipitate adsorbs one of the ion of the electrolyte on its
surface. The adsorbed ion is generally common with those of the precipitate. This
causes the development of positive or negative charge on precipitates which
ultimately breaks up into smaller particles having the dimensions of colloids. For
example: When freshly precipitated Fe(OH)3 is shaken with aqueous solution of
FeCl3 (Peptising agent) it adsorbs Fe3+ ions and thereby breaks up into small sized
particles of type Fe(OH)3 / Fe3+. Similarly a precipitate of AgCl on shaking with
dilute solution of AgNO3, adsorbs Ag+ ion and gets peptised to colloidal particles of
type AgCl / Ag+. In some cases, peptisation can also be achieved by organic solvents.
For example: Cellulose nitrate is peptised by ethanol. The colloidal solution so
obtained is known as Colloidion.
Material Required

Two beakers of 250 ML & 50 ML, Funnel, glass rod, tripod-stand, wire gauze, burner,
filter papers, distilled water (100 ML), Arabic gum 4.5 g

Theory :

Gums are naturally occurring complex polysaccharides. Gum is secreted by stems of

trees to seal wounds in the bark. All gums are soluble in water. Gums on heating
with water get hydrolysed to yield a number of monosaccharides which are smaller
in size. Thus, a colloidal sol is obtained.

Procedure For Analysis

a. Take 4-5 g of dry Arabic gum in a mortar and grind it with the help of pestle.

b. Transfer gum powder in a 250 ML beaker, add 100 ML distilled water and heat
the mixture up to 600C with constant stirring for 4-5 minutes.

c. Stop heating, allow the solution to cool up to room temperature and filter it.

d. The filtrate obtained is the required sol.

Precautions :

a. Mortar, pestle, beakers, glass rod should be properly cleaned.

b. Stirring should be done constantly during addition of gum powder to hot water.

c. Distilled water must be used for preparation of sol.

Conclusion

Advantages of Arabic gum sol :

It is used in pharmaceuticals as a demuicent.

It is used topically for healing wounds.

Disadvantages of Arabic gum sol :

Ingestion of Arabic gum sol may raise serum cholesterol.

Allergic reactions to Arabic gum sol may cause respiratory problems.

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