Question

1. exercises

compare and contrast colloids, solutions, and suspensions. write the characteristics of each in the table.

	suspensions	solutions	colloids
appearance

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the properties of colloids, solutions, and suspensions:

For the "particles" column:

• Suspensions: Particle size is usually greater than \(1000\,\text{nm}\) (or \(1\,\mu\text{m}\)). These particles are large enough to be seen with the naked eye or a light microscope and tend to settle over time.
• Solutions: Particle size is less than \(1\,\text{nm}\). The particles are individual ions or molecules, too small to be seen even with a microscope.
• Colloids: Particle size ranges from \(1\,\text{nm}\) to \(1000\,\text{nm}\). The particles (like micelles, polymer chains, or small aggregates) are larger than in solutions but smaller than in suspensions.

For the "appearance" column:

• Suspensions: Often appear cloudy or opaque because the large particles scatter light and may settle, leaving a sediment at the bottom (e.g., sand in water).
• Solutions: Appear transparent or clear because the small particles do not scatter light significantly (e.g., salt dissolved in water).
• Colloids: Often appear translucent or have a cloudy appearance (due to the Tyndall effect, where light is scattered by the particles). Examples include milk (a colloid of fat globules in water) or fog (water droplets in air).

	Suspensions	Solutions	Colloids
appearance	Opaque, may settle, cloudy	Transparent, clear	Translucent, cloudy (Tyndall effect)

Answer:

To solve this, we analyze the properties of colloids, solutions, and suspensions:

For the "particles" column:

• Suspensions: Particle size is usually greater than \(1000\,\text{nm}\) (or \(1\,\mu\text{m}\)). These particles are large enough to be seen with the naked eye or a light microscope and tend to settle over time.
• Solutions: Particle size is less than \(1\,\text{nm}\). The particles are individual ions or molecules, too small to be seen even with a microscope.
• Colloids: Particle size ranges from \(1\,\text{nm}\) to \(1000\,\text{nm}\). The particles (like micelles, polymer chains, or small aggregates) are larger than in solutions but smaller than in suspensions.

For the "appearance" column:

• Suspensions: Often appear cloudy or opaque because the large particles scatter light and may settle, leaving a sediment at the bottom (e.g., sand in water).
• Solutions: Appear transparent or clear because the small particles do not scatter light significantly (e.g., salt dissolved in water).
• Colloids: Often appear translucent or have a cloudy appearance (due to the Tyndall effect, where light is scattered by the particles). Examples include milk (a colloid of fat globules in water) or fog (water droplets in air).

	Suspensions	Solutions	Colloids
appearance	Opaque, may settle, cloudy	Transparent, clear	Translucent, cloudy (Tyndall effect)