Which of the following is a characteristic of a colloidal solution?
Particles scatter a beam of light
Correct Answer: Particles scatter a beam of light
The Tyndall effect — scattering of light by colloid particles — is the most definitive characteristic of a colloidal solution.
- True solutions → No Tyndall effect (particles too small to scatter light)
- Colloidal solutions → Tyndall effect observed ✓
- Suspensions → Large particles; scatter and also allow settling
Other facts about colloids:
- Particles are not visible under ordinary microscope (but visible under ultramicroscope — Brownian motion)
- Particles do not settle on standing
- Particles pass through filter paper but not through semipermeable membrane
'Invisible under microscope' also applies to true solutions and is not the most definitive characteristic.
Similar Questions
Which of the following is NOT an example of a colloidal solution?
The cloudy appearance of soap solution is due to:
Which property most definitively distinguishes a suspension from a colloid?
Important Questions from Surface Chemistry
- A mixture is heterogeneous and shows Tyndall effect. It stops showing Tyndall effect after it has been kept for some time. Which of the following about this mixture is correct?
If a crystal of potassium permanganate is kept in a beaker containing water, the water becomes pink after some time. What characteristic of matter is inferred through this observation?
The gas used in artificial ripening of green fruits is
Motor vehicles equipped with catalytic converter should use unleaded petrol because lead in the petrol will cause following problem:
Which of the following is a positively charged Sol?
