COLLOID

Solutions and Other Mixtures

 Matter Classifying Matter
• The composition of a
material can be used to
classify it as a mixture
Substance Mixture or a substance
• The composition of a
pure substance is
constant
Element Compound • The composition of a
mixture can vary widely

Homogeneous Heterogeneous
 Types of Mixtures
• Heterogeneous Mixture: The parts of the
mixture are noticeably different from one
another.
– Examples: Sand, Salsa, Chocolate Chip
Cookie Dough
• Homogeneous Mixture: The substances
are so evenly distributed that it is difficult
to distinguish one substance in the mixture
from another.
– Examples: Swimming pool water, Stainless
steel fork
Solutions, Suspensions, & Colloids

• Mixtures can
be classified
based on the
size of their
largest
particles.
Suspension
• Suspension –
• Settles out or separates into different
layers when it is no longer agitated
• (no longer moving).
• Heterogeneous mixture
• Separates into layers over time
• Particles can be trapped by filter
paper (like a coffee filter)
• Are cloudy in appearance

• Examples: Sand and Water

 Filtration
• Separates materials
based on the size of
their particles

• Examples:
– Drip coffee makers
– Wire screens at an
archaeological site
Colloid particles are larger than the
particles in a solution.

• No, you don’t

need to learn
the exact sizes
of the particles,
just realize that
there is a
defined size.
 Colloids
• Contain some particles that are
intermediate in size and are in between
the small parts in a solution, and the larger
particles in a suspension.

• They do not separate in layers

• You can’t use a filter to separate the parts of a
colloid
• The scattering of light property can be used to
separate them from other mixtures
 Colloids
• Particles are large enough to scatter light.
• That means that you actually see what we call a “beam
of light” – in a solution, which has really small particles,
the light passes right through.
Scattering of light
 Slide #13 gives “opal” as an
example of a colloid. It’s a
gemstone, and here’s what it looks
like.
Emulsions
Liquid/liquid systems of 2 immiscible substances are called
emulsion. Substances or particle size = 10-100 microns.

Examples: butter (w/o), margarine (w/o), mayonnaise (o/w),

salad dressing (o/w), milk (o/w), cream (o/w), and chip-dip (o/w).

Oil
H2O HO
Oil Oil 2
Oil Oil
Oil Oil HO H2O
2
Oil
Oil Oil Oil
Water
Oil/Water Water/Oil
 Solutions
• Formed when substances dissolve and
form a homogeneous mixture
• Characteristics
– Do not separate into distinct layers over time
– Will not leave trapped substances when
poured through a filter
– Most are translucent (clear or see-through)
 Solutions
• Solvent • Solute

• Substance that dissolves • Substance that

the solute, dissolves in the
• stuff “doing the solution.
dissolving.” • Salt in the water
• Water in salt and water
• Sugar in the tea
• water in “sweet tea”
• Chemicals put in your
• What you have the most fish tank.
of!
Using Properties to Separate Mixtures

Distillation & Filtration

are 2 common separation methods