suspensies

Suspensies is the plural form of the Dutch noun suspensie, meaning suspension. In Dutch-language science and everyday usage, suspensie refers to a heterogeneous mixture in which small solid particles are dispersed throughout a liquid but are not dissolved. The plural suspensies appears in texts describing multiple such mixtures, for example een suspensie van zand in water. The term is also used in other domains to describe a state or condition that is temporarily suspended, though the chemical sense is the most common in scientific writing.

Etymology and usage: suspensie derives from the French suspension, itself from Latin suspensus, the past participle of suspendere, meaning to hang or suspend. In Dutch, suspensie covers both the scientific sense (a suspended mixture) and more general notions of something being held in suspension.

In chemistry and materials science, a suspensie denotes a mixture where particles larger than molecules remain dispersed in a continuous liquid phase and may gradually settle over time. Stability depends on factors such as particle size, density difference, and interactions that promote or prevent aggregation. Preparation typically requires mixing, grinding, or milling to achieve a uniform dispersion, while storage and handling may necessitate agitation to maintain homogeneity.

Other related terms include slurry, colloid, and emulsion, which describe related but distinct states of dispersed systems. In English-language texts, suspensions are usually described with the English term “suspension.” Suspensies, as a Dutch plural, is uncommon outside Dutch-language contexts and would usually be translated according to context.