Kolloidernas

Kolloidernas refers to colloids, which are mixtures where one substance of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. The dispersed-phase particles have a size between approximately 1 and 1000 nanometers. Colloidal systems are distinct from solutions, where the solute particles are fully dissolved and much smaller, and from suspensions, where the particles are larger and settle out over time.

Examples of colloids are common in everyday life. Milk is a colloid, consisting of fat globules dispersed in water. Smoke is a colloid of solid particles in air, and fog is a colloid of liquid water droplets in air. Many paints and inks are also colloidal dispersions. The particles in a colloid are not visible to the naked eye but can be observed using a microscope or by the Tyndall effect, where light is scattered by the suspended particles, making the beam visible.

The behavior of colloids is influenced by the surface properties of the dispersed particles. These particles often carry an electrical charge, which helps to keep them suspended and prevents them from clumping together. This electrostatic repulsion is a key factor in the stability of many colloidal systems. Colloids play important roles in various scientific and industrial fields, including biology, medicine, food science, and materials science.