Kolloidisation

Kolloidisation is a process by which a substance is dispersed in a medium, forming a colloid. A colloid is a mixture in which 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. Colloids are distinct from true solutions, where the solute particles are fully dissolved and indistinguishable from the solvent, and from suspensions, where the particles are much larger and will settle out over time.

In the process of kolloidisation, the particles of the dispersed phase are neither dissolved nor settled but remain suspended due to Brownian motion and repulsive forces between the particles. These forces can arise from surface charges on the particles or from adsorbed layers. The medium in which the particles are dispersed is called the dispersion medium. Common examples of colloids include milk, fog, smoke, and gels. The formation of colloids can occur through various methods, such as mechanical grinding, chemical precipitation, or condensation. Understanding kolloidisation is important in many fields, including chemistry, materials science, and biology, as it influences the properties and behavior of many substances and systems. For instance, the stability and optical properties of colloids are directly related to the kolloidisation process.