Colloids (colloidal dispersions) represent an intermediate kind of mixture in which the solute-like

particles, or dispersed phase, are suspended in the solvent-like phase, or dispersing medium. The
particles of the dispersed phase are so small that settling is negligible. They are large enough, however,
to make the mixture appear cloudy or even opaque, because light is scattered as it passes through the
colloid.

Mewakili koloid (dispersi koloid) jenis campuran antara di mana partikel seperti zat terlarut, atau fase
terdispersi, ditangguhkan dalam fase seperti pelarut, atau media pendispersi. Partikel dari fase
terdispersi sangat kecil sehingga pengendapan dapat diabaikan. Mereka cukup besar, bagaimanapun,
untuk membuat campuran tampak keruh atau bahkan buram, karena cahaya tersebar saat melewatinya
melalui koloid. (General chemistry, whitten davis peck)

The scattering of light by colloidal particles is called the Tyndall effect (Figure 14-18). Particles cannot
scatter light if they are too small. Solute particles in solutions are below this limit. The maximum
dimension of colloidal particles is about 10,000 Å. The scattering of light from automobile headlights by
fogs and mists is an example of the Tyndall effect, as is the scattering of a light beam in a laser show by
dust particles in the air in a darkened room. (General chemistry, whitten davis peck)

Jenis-jenis koloid
Whitten, K.W., Davis R.E., & Peck L. (2014). General chemistry. (edisi kesepuluh). Belmont: Brooks Cole
Pub.

Lewis, Rob, and Wynne. (2006). Chemistry Third Edition. China : Palgrave Macmillan

Whitten, K.W., Davis R.E., & Peck L. (2014). General chemistry. (edisi kesepuluh). Belmont: Brooks Cole
Pub.

Particles that are too small cannot scatter light. Solute particles in true solutions are below the size limit
required for light scattering. Colloidal particles, however, are larger—up to about 10,000 Å (1000 nm or
1 micron)—so they do scatter light. This scattering of light by colloidal particles is called the Tyndall
effect (Figure 14-18). The scattering of light from automobile headlights by fogs and mists is an example
of the Tyndall effect, as is the scattering of a light beam in a laser show by dust particles in the air in a
darkened room. If the air didn’t have any suspended solid particles you would not be able to see the
laser beam.
Knight, Judson. Science of Everyday Things Volume 1: Real Life Chemistry. A Schlager Information Group
Book.

Almost everyone, especially as a child, has been fascinated by the colloidal dispersion of dust particles in
a beam of sunlight. They seem to be continually in motion, as indeed they are, and this movement is
called “Brownian motion” in honor of the man who first observed it. Yet Brown did not understand what
he was seeing; only later did scientists recognize that Brownian motion is the result of movement on the
part of molecules in a fluid. Even though the molecules are much smaller than the colloid, there are
enough of them producing enough collisions to cause the colloid to be in constant motion.

Another remarkable aspect of dust particles floating in sunlight is the way that they cause a column of
sunlight to become visible. This phenomenon, called the Tyndall effect after English physicist John
Tyndall (1820-1893), makes it seem as though we are actually seeing a beam of light. In fact, what we
are seeing is the reflection of light off the colloidal dispersion. Another example of a colloidal dispersion
occurs when a puff of smoke hangs in the air; furthermore, as we shall see, milk is a substance made up
of colloids—in this case, particles of fat and protein suspended in water.