Colloid - Chemistry Glossary Definition

A colloid is a type of homogeneous mixture in which the dispersed particles do not settle out. The insoluble particles in the mixture are microscopic, with particle sizes between 1 and 1000 nanometers. The mixture may be termed a colloid or a colloidal suspension. The phrase colloidal solution is incorrect. Sometimes the term colloid only refers to the particles in the mixture and not the entire suspension. Colloids may be translucent due to the Tyndall effect, where light is scattered by particles in the mixture. Examples of Colloids Colloids may be gases, liquids, or solids. Examples of familiar colloids include butter, milk, smoke, fog, ink, and paint. Cytoplasm is another example of a colloid. Source Levine, Ira N. (2001). Physical Chemistry (5th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. p. 955. ISBN 978-0-07-231808-1.