Sol, solution, and suspension are three different types of mixtures distinguished mainly by the size of their particles, the uniformity of the mixture, and their stability.
Differences between Sol, Solution, and Suspension
Feature| Sol| Solution| Suspension
---|---|---|---
Type of mixture| Colloid (heterogeneous)| Homogeneous mixture|
Heterogeneous mixture
Particle size| Intermediate, typically 1–1000 nm| Very small, molecular
or ionic level (<1 nm)| Large particles (>1000 nm)
Visibility of particles| Not visible to naked eye, but particles scatter
light (Tyndall effect)| Particles not visible, no light scattering| Particles
visible to naked eye
Uniformity| Particles dispersed evenly but not dissolved| Completely
uniform and dissolved| Particles unevenly dispersed
Stability| Stable, particles do not settle| Very stable, no settling|
Unstable, particles settle over time
Filtration| Particles cannot be separated by filtration| Particles cannot
be separated by filtration| Particles can be separated by filtration
Light scattering| Shows Tyndall effect (scatters light)| Does not scatter
light (no Tyndall effect)| Scatters light, path of light visible
Examples| Paint, blood, milk (colloidal sols)| Salt dissolved in water,
sugar in water| Muddy water, sand in water, milk of magnesia
Explanation
- Sol : A sol is a colloidal mixture where solid particles are dispersed in a liquid. The particles are larger than those in a solution but smaller than in a suspension. Sols are stable and do not settle upon standing. They scatter light, making the path of a beam visible (Tyndall effect)
- Solution : A solution is a homogeneous mixture in which the solute is completely dissolved in the solvent at the molecular or ionic level. The particles are too small to be seen or to scatter light, and the mixture is stable with no settling of particles
- Suspension : A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture where large solid particles are dispersed in a liquid but do not dissolve. These particles are visible, scatter light, and settle down over time if left undisturbed. Suspensions are unstable and the particles can be separated by filtration
In summary, the key distinctions lie in particle size, stability, visibility, and whether the mixture is homogeneous or heterogeneous. Solutions have the smallest particles and are homogeneous and stable; sols have intermediate- sized particles forming stable colloids; suspensions have large particles that settle and are heterogeneous and unstable.
