UNIT-1

COLLOIDS

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Na true solution, solute particles mix homogeneously with the molecules of
the solvent and thus form a single phase. However, a colloidal solution is a

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heterogeneous system in which very fine particles of one substance disperse
(dispersed phase) in another substance called dispersion medium. Particles
of the dispersed phase do not form a single phase with the particles of the
dispersion medium because of the fact that they are either very large molecules

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or essentially aggregates of small molecules. Colloidal particles are larger in size
than simple molecules but small enough to remain suspended in the dispersion
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medium (10–9 –10–6 m). Some examples of very large molecules which form collidal

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dispersion are starch, gum and proteins, whereas colloidal sulphur is an example
of aggregates of small molecules. Further, a heterogeneous system of a solid as
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dispersed phase and a liquid as dispersion medium is called a sol. Depending
upon the nature of interaction between the dispersed phase and the dispersion
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medium, colloidal sols are divided into two categories, namely, lyophilic (solvent
attracting) and lyophobic (solvent repelling). If water is the dispersion medium,
the terms used are hydrophilic and hydrophobic. Egg albumin, starch and gum
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are lyophilic sols. Freshly prepared ferric hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide and
arsenic sulphide sols are examples of lyophobic sols. A few methods of
preparation of colloids are – chemical methods, electrical disintegration and
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peptization. In this unit you will learn to prepare both the types of sols. Also, you
will learn a method of purification of sols.

EXPERIMENT 1.1

Aim
To prepare (a) lyophilic sol; and (b) lyophobic sol.
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Theory
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Since particles of dispersed phase in lyophilic sols have an affinity for the particles
of dispersion medium, these sols are more stable as compared to lyophobic sols.
Two factors responsible for the stability of sols are – charge and the solvation of
the colloidal particles by the solvent. Stability of lyophilic sols is primarily due to
the solvation of colloidal particles by the solvent whereas lyophobic sols are
stabilised by the charge on the colloidal particles. Due to their charges, colloidal
 LABORATORY MANUAL CHEMISTRY

particles remain suspended in solution and coagulation does

not take place. These charges may be positive or negative.
Some examples of negatively charged sols are starch and arsenious
sulphide. Positively charged sol of hydrated ferric oxide is formed
when FeCl3 is added to excess of hot water and a negatively charged
sol of hydrated ferric oxide is formed when ferric chloride is added
to NaOH solution. The lyophilic sols are directly formed by mixing
and shaking the substance with a suitable liquid. Lyophobic sols
cannot be prepared by direct mixing and shaking. Special methods
are employed to prepare these.

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Material Required

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• Beaker (250 mL) : One
• Egg : One
• Watch glass : One
• Sodium chloride : 5g
•

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Porcelain dish : One

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• Ferric chloride : 2g
• Measuring cylinder : One
• Aluminium chloride : 2g
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(100 mL)
• Starch/gum : 500 mg

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• Pipette (10 mL)
• Graduated pipette :
: One
One
• Arsenious oxide : 0.2 g
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(20 mL)
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Procedure
A. Preparation of Lyophilic Sol
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Aluminium
I. Egg Albumin Sol
chloride (i) Prepare 100 mL of 5% (w/v) solution of NaCl in water in
a 250 mL beaker.
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Arsenic
compounds (ii) Break one egg in a porcelain dish and pipette out the
albumin and pour it in sodium chloride solution.
Stir well to ensure that the sol is well prepared.
Hazard Warning
II. Starch/gum Sol
• While doing experiment (i) Measure 100 mL of distilled water with the help of a
do not eat, drink or
smoke.
measuring cylinder and transfer it to a 250 mL beaker
and boil it.
(ii) Make a paste of 500 mg starch or gum in hot water
and transfer this paste to 100 mL of boiling water with
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constant stirring. Keep water boiling and stirring for

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10 minutes after addition of paste. To judge the efficacy

of the prepared sol, you may compare it with the
original paste prepared.
B. Preparation of Lyophobic Sol
I. Ferric hydroxide/Aluminium hydroxide
(i) Take 100 mL of distilled water in a 250 mL beaker and
boil it.

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 COLLOIDS

(ii) Add 2g of ferric chloride/aluminium chloride powder to

boiling water and stir it well.
(iii) Take 100 mL of distilled water in another 250 mL beaker
and boil it.
(iv) Pour 10 mL of ferric chloride/aluminium chloride solution
prepared in step (ii) drop by drop into the boiling water
with constant stirring. Keep the water boiling till brown/
white sol is obtained.
II. Arsenious Sulphide Sol
(i) Transfer 100 mL of distilled water to a beaker of 250 mL

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capacity.
(ii) Add 0.2 g of arsenious oxide to it and boil the content of

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the beaker.
(iii) Cool and filter the solution.
(iv) Pass hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas through the filtered

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solution till it smells of H2S. (Use Kipp’s apparatus to
pass hydrogen sulphide gas).
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(v) Expel H2S gas from the sol by slow heating and filter it.

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(vi) Label the filtrate as arsenious sulphide sol.
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Precautions
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(a) While preparing colloidal solutions of starch, gum, ferric chloride, aluminium
chloride etc., pour the paste or solution gradually into the boiling water with
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constant stirring. Addition of these substances in excess may cause precipitation.

(b) Arsenious oxide is poisonous in nature; so wash your hands immediately every
time after handling this chemical.
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Discussion Questions

(i) How will you differentiate between a true solution and a colloidal dispersion?
(ii) Identify some sols (colloids) that you use in your daily life and mention their importance.
(iii) How do colloids acquire a charge? Why is ferric hydroxide/aluminium hydroxide sol
prepared in the experiment, positively charged while arsenious sulphide sol is negatively
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charged?
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(iv) What is coagulation? How is coagulation different from peptization?

(v) How can you convert a colloidal dispersion of sulphur into a true solution?
(vi) Out of lyophilic and lyophobic sols, which one can be easily converted into a gel and why?
(vii) Differentiate between a gel and a sol.
(viii) What are the applications of colloids in the field of Medicine, Defense and in Rocket Technology?