Disperse 分散 Systems

Learning Objective

• Definition 定义

• Classification 分类
• By phase 状态
• By size 尺寸 (suspension/colloid/solution)

• Preparation 制备 and Properties 性质

• Example and Application

 Disperse Systems
• The term “Disperse System” refers to a system in which one substance (the
dispersed phase) is distributed, in discrete units, throughout a second
substance (the continuous phase or vehicle).
• Each phase can exist in solid, liquid, or gaseous state .

Dispersed phase
分散相

Continuous phase
连续相

Interface
界面
 Classification of Disperse Systems

Dispersed Phase
Continuous Phase

Gas Liquid Solid

Solution Liquid aerosol Solid aerosol
Gas e.g. fog, hair spray e.g. smoke, PM

Solution or Foam Solution or Solution or Sol

Liquid e.g. whipped cream,
shaving cream
Emulsion
e.g. milk, mayonnaise
e.g. blood,
pigmented ink
Solid Foam Gel Solid sol
Solid e.g. aerogel, pumice,
PS foam
e.g. agar, gelatin, jelly,
opal
e.g. jewel,
gemstone
Activity

Give examples of different disperse systems

in real life.

Dispersed Phase
Continuous Phase

Gas Liquid Solid

Gas

Liquid

Solid
Suspensions
Types of disperse systems
Dispersion 分散

Suspension/ Colloidal/ True solution/

Heterogenous/ Fine dispersion Molecular dispersion
Coarse dispersion 1 – 500 (1000) nm < 1 nm
> 500 (1000) nm
Heterogenous systems Micro-heterogenous system
homogenous systems, salt,
(blood, milk) (plasma, macromolecular
acid and base solutions
solutions)

Coagulation 凝结 condensation,
(floculation) 絮凝 aggregation 聚合
Separation of Continuous and Dispersed Phase
Suspension
•Sedimentation 沉降
•Paper Filtration 过滤

Colloid
•Ultracentrifuge 超速离心
•Semipermeable Membrane 半透膜

Solution
•Chromatography 色谱
•Distillation 蒸馏
 Properties of disperse systems
Heterogenous Colloid
True solution
dispersion dispersion
Visibility of Eye, optical Electron

particles microscope microscope
Ultracentrifu-
Sedimentation + 
gation
Optical Frequently Opalescent 乳光 Transparent
properties opaque 浑浊 (Tyndall effect) 透明

Separability Paper filters Membrane filters None

 Properties of disperse systems

Heterogenous Colloid
True solution
dispersion dispersion

Difuse  Slow Fast

Semipermeabl
Pass through
 e does not +
membranes
pass
Colligative
 Small High
properties
Thermal
Small Middle High
motion
 Heterogenous (rough) dispersion
• Suspension - heterogeneous fluid
containing solid particles that are
sufficiently large for sedimentation.
• Particle size is > 1 m
• Dispersion is made by mechanical
agitation (sand in the water).

• Aerosol - a suspension of liquid

droplets or a suspension of fine solid
particles in a gas.
• Example : smoke, air pollution, smog etc.
Heterogenous (rough) dispersion

• Emulsion 乳液 - a mixture of two or more

immiscible liquids
• one liquid (the dispersed phase) is dispersed in the
other (the continuous phase).
• Prepared by shaking – oil/water (milk, mayonnaise),
water/ oil (butter).
Colloids

• Particle size 1 – 1000 nm.

• Particles have very large surface area
• Homogenous colloidal system - lyophilic
dispersion.
• Heterogenic colloidal system – lyophobic
dispersion
Properties of colloid solutions

• Particles are visible only by ultra-microscope or electron

microscope – Brown motion.
• They do not sediment quickly, pass through common filters ( but
not through semipermeable membrane).
• Dispersion of passing light (Tyndall effect).
• Produce osmotic pressure.
 Properties of colloid solutions

• Colloids are everywhere

• In the human body
• Washing powder, soup, tooth paste, etc.
• Many foods (yogurt, butter, milk)
• Nanotechnologies are based on chemistry of colloids
Lyophilic colloids

• Lyophilic particles are mixed with the suitable

solvent. Particles have high affinity to the solvent.
• High force of attraction exists between colloidal
particles and liquid.
• This result in formation of very stable solution called
lyophilic sol.
• Attraction forces (solvate cover) stabilize lyophilic
colloid, defense their clustering to the larger complexes
• Cells – contain solution of lyophilic colloids
Lyophobic colloid

• Colloid particles do not have affinity to the molecules of solvent

• Mostly complexes of inorganic particles which do not have affinity to
the solvent
• They are prepared by artificial dispersion - Fe(OH)3, As2S3
Negative charge of S2- or HS- is
compensated by opposite charge
from the (H+).
 Emulsions

• Stable coloidal system in which both

phases are liquids (water and oil)
• Miscible liquid form a solution
• Lyophobic colloids form an emulsion
• Emulsifying agent – substance require
to form a stable emulsion
• Emulsifyin agent is surface-active,
i.e.it reduce the surface tension (soap,
many other detergents.