Properties of Colloids

General Properties


General Properties
1. A colloid appears to be homogeneous but actually it is heterogeneous.
[Homogeneous mixture:---- In this substances are completely mixed
together and are indistinguishable from one another.
Heterogeneous mixture:---- in this substances remain separate and one
substance is spread throughout the other substance as small particles,
droplets or bubbles].
2. The size of particles in a colloid is between 1 nm(1 m = 10^9 nm) and
100 nm in diameter.
3. The particles of most of the colloids cannot be seen even with a
microscope.
4. The particles of a colloid can pass through a filter paper. So, a colloid
cannot be separated by filtration.
5. A colloid scatters a beam of light passing through it. [because its
particles are fairly large.] This process is also known as tyndal effect
Optical Properties
Tyndall Effect
Tyndall (1869) observed that when a strong beam
of light is focused on a colloidal solution the path
of the beam becomes visible and when viewed
through microscope placed at right angle to the
path of light (ultramicroscopically), the colloidal
particles appear as pin points of light moving
against a dark background in a colloidal solution.
This phenomenon is known as Tyndall effect and
the illuminated path is called Tyndall cone. This
phenomenon is not observed in case of true
solution.
Cause of this Phenomenon
This phenomenon is due to scattering of light by
colloidal particles. This scattering of light can be
due to simple reflection because the size of the
particles is smaller than wavelength of visible
light which are, therefore, unable to reflect light
waves. The colloidal particles become self
luminous due to absorption of light energy which
is then scattered from their surface. The
maximum scattered intensity in the plane is at
right angle to the path of the light and thus the
path becomes visible when observed from the
sides.
Tyndall Effect
Brownian Movement
Robert Brown (1927) an English Botanist,
observed that the pollen grains in aqueous
suspensions were in constant motion. Similar
phenomenon was, later on, found in case of
colloidal solution, when observed ultra-
microscopically.
Brownian Movement
This continuous and rapid zig-zag motion of
the colloidal particles is called Brownian
movement. This motion is independent of the
nature of the colloidal particles. It is more
rapid when the size of the particles is small
and the solution is less viscous.
Cause of this Phenomenon
The Brownian movement is due to the
bombardment of colloidal particles by
molecules of dispersion medium. The intensity
of motion depends upon the size of the
particles and the viscosity of the dispersion
medium. The smaller the particles and the less
viscous the dispersion medium, the more
vigorous is the Brownian movement and vice
versa.
Brownian Movement
Electrical Properties
Electrophoresis
Since the colloidal particles are electrically
charged (+ or -)with respect to the dispersion
medium, hence on passing electric current
through colloidal solution the charged
particles move towards oppositely charged
electrodes and get discharged to give
precipitate. So, this migration of colloidal
particles under the influence of electric field is
called electrophoresis.
Electro osmosis
When electrophoresis of dispersed particle in
a colloidal system is prevented by some
suitable means, it is observed that dispersion
medium itself begins to move in an electric
field. This phenomenon is known as electro
osmosis.
Coagulation
We know that the stability of the colloidal
solution is due to mutual repulsion between
similarly charged colloidal particles. When the
charge on the colloidal particles is neutralized
by the addition of an electrolyte or oppositely
charged sol, the precipitation takes place.
Thus the process of precipitating a colloidal
solution is known as coagulation or
flocculation.