DISPERSED SYSTEM :

Solutions, Suspension and

Colloidal System
 Dispersed sytem is system in which one substance
(dispersed phase) is distributed in discrete units
throughout a secound substance (the continous phase)
Dispersed Sytem consist of :
1. Particulate matter (Dispersed phase)
2. Dispersion medium (Continuous medium).

Dispersed particulate : particles of atomic, molecular and coarse dimensions

Based on physical state of dispersed phase and
dispersion medium
Dispersed system on the basis of particle :
1. Molecular dispersion
2. Colloidal dispersion
3. Coarse dispersion
Property Solution Colloid Suspension
Particle Size Less than 1 nm 1 to 0,5 µm More than 0,5 µm
( O2, NaCl, Glucose) (AgCl, polymer, milk) (suspensions, emulsions,)
Appearance Clear Clear ,Cloudy Cloudy
Homogeneity Homogeneous Homogeneous or Heterogeneous
Heterogeneous
Transparency Transparent but often Often translucent and Often opaque but
coloured opaque but can be can be Translucent
transparent
Separation Does not separate Can be seperated Separates or settles

Filterability Passes through Passes through Particles do not pass

filter paper filter paper through filter paper
 Comparison of the Properties of Solutions,
Colloids and Suspensions
Solution Suspension Colloid

Appearance Clear, transparent Cloudy, Cloudy but

and homogeneous heterogeneous, at uniform
least two substances visible and homogeneous
Particle Size molecule in size larger than 10,000 10-1000
(10-7-10-8 cm) Angstroms Angstroms
(10-3-10-5 cm) (10-3-10-7 cm)
Effect of Light none -- light passes variable light is dispersed
Tyndall Effect through, particles by colloidal
do not reflect light particles
Effect of None particles will None
Sedimentation Eventually settle out

Visibility Particles non visible Particles visible even Particles visible

even under The with naked eye under
ultramicroscope ultramicroscope
 Solutions

 It is a common observation that when a little sugars or salt is

dissolved in water a homogeneous and stable mixture of the
two components is obtained which is called as solution.
 Of these two components, the one (here sugar or the salt)
which is present in small quantity is called as solute while
the other (here water) present in large quantity is called as
solvent.
 Solutions

 The solution is homogeneous because the

molecules or the solute become evenly distributed
throughout the solvent.
 It is a stable system because the molecules or the
ions do not settle down.
 Sometimes more than one molecule may be
dissolved in a solvent to form a stable and
homogeneous mixture.
 the particles are not visible even under highest
power of the microscope.
 Solutions
Thus, true solution may be defined as :
 Homogeneous and stable mixture of two or more
chemical substances.
 Solutions

 Particle sizes distinguish one homogeneous mixture from

another.
 Solutions are mixtures with particle sizes at the molecule or
ion level.
 The particles have dimensions between 0.1 to 2 nanometers.

 Typically solutions are transparent. Light can usually pass

through the solution.
 If the solute is able to absorb visible light then the solution
will have a color.
 A solution cannot be filtered but can be separated
using the process of distillation.
 Suspensions
 A Pharmaceutical suspension is a disperse system
in which internal phase is dispersed uniformly as
finely divided insoluble particles throughout the
external phase.
• A suspension is a mixture between two substances,
one of which is finely divided and dispersed in the
other.
 Common suspensions include sand in water, dust
in air, and droplets of oil in air.
 Particles in a suspension will settle out if the
suspension is allowed to stand undisturbed.
The internal phase consisting of insoluble solid particles
The external phase (suspending medium) is generally aqueous
 Suspensions

 Many particles of a suspension can be separated

through a filter.
 Suspensions are homogeneous mixtures with particles
that have diameters greater than 1000 nm.
 The size of the particles is great enough so they are
visible to the naked eye and they do not transmit light.

o Most suspensions are classified as a coarse

suspension which is a dispersion of particles with
a mean diameter greater than 1µm (1 to 100 µm)
 Suspensions
The particles in a suspension are insoluble
 Sometimes when we mix substances they stay
in clusters. We therefore say it is insoluble in
water.
 E.g. Chalk + Water = Suspension

 Eventually the particles sink to the bottom to

form sediment.
 Types of insoluble solids
There are two types of insoluble solids
which constitute the internal or dispersed
phase. These are
1. DIFFUSIBLE SOLIDS – these sediment
sufficiently slowly to enable satisfactory
dose removal after redispersion.eg.
Light kaoline, magnesium tricilicate
 Types of insoluble solids

2. INDIFFUSIBLE SOLIDS- eg.

sulphadimidine and chalk. These sediment
too rapidly and require the addition of
other materials to reduce sedimentation
rate to an acceptable level.
 Colloidal System

 A colloid is intermediate between a solution and a

suspension.
 The size of the colloidal particles is in between the
size of particles of true solutions and suspension.
 While a suspension will separate out, a colloid will
not.
 Colloidal System

 There are 8 different kinds of colloidal system, one of

them (solid + liquid type) .
 This type of colloidal in which the solid forms the
dispersed phase and the liquid dispersion medium,
has a fluid like consistency and is called as colloidal
solution or sol.
 The particles of the dispersed phase in colloidal
solution are called as colloidal particles or sol
particles or micelles.
 Colloidal System

 The colloidal particles are not visible under

microscope but can be observed under an
ultramicroscope.
 Types of Colloidal solutions :

a) lyophilic (solvent loving) called emulsions,

there is an affinity between the particles of
the two phases, When water is the
dispersion medium it is called hydrophilic
b) lyophobic (solvent hating) called
suspensions, When water is the dispersion
medium it is called hydrophobic.
 Colloidal System

 Colloids are mixtures with particle sizes that consist

of clumps of molecules.
 The particles have dimensions between 2 to 1000
nanometers.
 The colloid looks homogeneous to the naked eye.
milk is an example of colloids.