Solutions, Suspensions and Colloids

Solutions, suspensions, and colloids are all types of mixtures. The main difference
between them is the size of the particles that make up each mixture.

Solutions
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. The particles in
a solution are very small. The particles are so small that they cannot be seen with
the naked eye, and they do not scatter light. An example of a solution is saltwater.
The solvent is the substance that does the dissolving and is present in the higher
concentration. While the solute is the substance that dissolves and is present in
the lower concentration.
Water is the solvent because that is the substance being used to dissolve the
solute. The salt is the solute because it is the substance being dissolved into the
water.
Types of Solutions
Solutions can come in any forms of the three states of matter. That means that
not all solutions are liquids.
Table 1 showing the different types of solutions
Solute Solvent Example Components of
Solution
Solid Liquid Sea water Salt (NaCl) in
water

Gas Liquid Soda water Carbon Dioxide

(CO₂) in water

Solid Solid Brass Zinc in copper

Liquid Liquid Rum Ethanol in water

Gas Gas Air Oxygen, Argon
and Carbon
Dioxide in
 Nitrogen

Suspensions
A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture in which minute, but visible particles
are dispersed in another substance, usually a liquid.
Some common examples of suspensions include:
Dust and air- solid in a gas
Muddy water- solid in a liquid
Chalk powder and water- solid in a liquid

A colloid is a heterogeneous mixture in which the particles of one substance are

dispersed in another substance, ususally a liquid. The dispersed particles are
smaller than those of a suspension, but larger than those of a solution.
Some examples of colloids are: milk, fog, smoke in air, mayonnaise, toothpaste,
aerosol sprays, jelly, gelatin.
Video on solutions, suspensions and Colloids

Solution, Suspension and Colloid | #aumsum #kids #science #education #children - YouTube
Table 2 showing the characteristics of solutions, colloids and suspensions

PROPERTY SOLUTION COLLOID SUSPENSION

PARTICLE SIZE Very small (less than Greater than that of Large enough so
one nanometer in a solution but they they are visible to
diameter) are not visible to the naked eye
the naked eye (b/n (greater than 1000
1 and 1000nm in nm in diameter)
diameter)

APPEARANCE Generally Usually opaque opaque

transparent

DO No No Yes
COMPONENTS
SEPARATE OUT
AFTER MIXTURE
HAS BEEN LEFT
STANDING FOR
A WHILE?
SEPARATED BY No No Yes
FILTER
Solubility
 An indication of how much of the solute can dissolve in a fixed mass of
solvent at a particular temperature.
 When no more solute can be dissolved in the solvent, the solution reaches
saturation point and we say that the solution is saturated.
 The solubility of a solute in a solvent is determined by the structure of the
solute and the solvent, the temperature and the pressure.

The effect of temperature on solubility of solids in water

 For most solid solutes in water, solubility increases as temperature

increases.
When a substance is heated, molecules are heated and particles absorb the
energy and will have a higher kinetic energy. Therefore, their kinetic energy
will increase. As such, they will collide more frequently with solvent
particles, thus increasing solubility.
 If a saturated solution is cooled, crystals of the solute will form, since less of
the solute can dissolve at the lower temperature
 Usually expressed in grams of solute per 100g of water
 Solubility (g/100g) vs Temperature (⁰C) = Solubility Curve
Solubility Curves
Solubility curves can be used to obtain the following information:
1. The solubility of a solid at any given temperature.
Example: At 20⁰C, solubility of KClO₃ = 9.0 g per 100 g water
2. The mass of solute which must be added to resaturate a solution if its
temperature is increased.
Example:
If the temperature is increased from 40⁰C to 60⁰C:
Solubility of KClO₃ at 40⁰C = 15.0 g per 100 g water
Solubility of KClO₃ ate 60⁰C = 20.0 g per 100 g of water
 and 20.0 – 15.0 g = 5.0 g
i.e. 5.0 g of KClO₃ must be added to a solution containing 100 g of water at
40⁰C to form a saturated solution at 60⁰C.

3. The mass of solute which would crystallize out of a saturated solution if its
temperature is decreased.
Example:
If the temperature is decreased from 100⁰C to 80⁰C:
Solubility of KClO₃ at 100⁰C = 34.0 g per 100 g water
Solubility of KClO₃ at 80⁰C = 27.0 g per 100 g water
34.0 – 27.0 g = 7.0 g
i.e. 7.0 g of KClO₃ would crystallize out of a saturated solution containing
100g of water that is saturated at 100⁰C is cooled to 80⁰C.
4. The minimum mass of solvent required to dissolve a fixed mass of solute
at a given temperature.
Example
To dissolve 116 g of KClO₃ at 60⁰C:
At 60⁰C, 20 g of KClO₃ dissolves in 100 g of water.
100
Therefore: 1 g KClO₃ dissolves in 20 g water
100
And 116 g of KClO₃ dissolves in 116 X 20 g water
=580 g water
i.e. to dissolve 116 g of KClO₃ at 60⁰C requires 580 g of water.
Solubility curve for Potassium Chlorate (v), KClO₃ in water.