Size and Shape of Colloidal Particles

Colloids are dispersion systems consisting of at least 2 phases: one

or more dispersed (internal phase) distributed throughout a
continuous phase (external phase called dispersion medium or
vehicle). Particle size of the dispersed phase fall between 1nm to
500 nm (0.5 micrometers)
Particles in the colloidal size range have a surface area that is
enormous compared with the surface area of an equal volume of
larger particles
Specific surface is defined as the surface area per unit weight or
volume of material.
Large specific surface contributes to the unique properties of
colloidal dispersions. For example,
 Platinum is effective as a catalyst only when in the colloidal
form as platinum black. This is because catalysts act by
adsorbing the reactants onto their surface. Hence, their
catalytic activity is related to their specific surface.
 The color of colloidal dispersions is related to the size of the
particles present. Thus, as the particles in a red gold sol
increase in size, the dispersion takes on a blue color
Because of their size, colloidal particles can be separated from
molecular particles easily. The technique of separation, known as
dialysis, uses a semipermeable membrane of collodion or
cellophane, the pore size of which will prevent the passage of
colloidal particles, yet permit small molecules and ions, such as
urea, glucose, and sodium chloride, to cross through

The open circles are the colloidal particles that are too large to cross
through the membrane. The solid dots are the electrolyte particles
that cross through the pores of the membrane.
At equilibrium, the colloidal material is retained in compartment A,
whereas the subcolloidal material is distributed equally on both
sides of the membrane. By continually removing the liquid in
compartment B, it is possible to obtain colloidal material in A that is
free from subcolloidal contaminants. Dialysis can also be used to
obtain subcolloidal material that is free from colloidal
contamination
Ultrafiltration has also been used to separate and purify colloidal
material. According to one variation of the method, filtration is
conducted under negative pressure (suction) through a dialysis
membrane supported in a Büchner funnel. When dialysis and
ultrafiltration are used to remove charged impurities such as ionic
contaminants, the process can be hastened by the use of an electric
potential across the membrane. This process is called
electrodialysis.
Dialysis occurs in vivo also. Thus, ions and small molecules pass
readily from the blood, through a natural semipermeable
membrane, to the tissue fluids; the colloidal components of the
blood remain within the capillary system. The principle of dialysis is
utilized in the artificial kidney, which removes low–molecular-
weight impurities from the body by passage through a
semipermeable membrane.

The shape adopted by colloidal particles in dispersion is important

because it affects the interaction between the particles of the
dispersed phase and the dispersion medium
Also, Particle shape may also influence properties as flow,
sedimentation, and osmotic pressure and pharmacological action
Some representative shapes of colloids are shown in Figure

(a) Spheres and globules,

(b) Short rods and prolate ellipsoids,
(c) Oblate ellipsoids and flakes,
(d) Long rods and threads,
(e) Loosely coiled threads, and
(f) Branched threads.
 PREPARATION OF COLLOIDS
LYOPHILIC COLLOIDS
o In lyophilic sols, the dispersed phase shows a definite affinity for
the dispersion medium or the solvent. It is also called solvent
loving.
o The affinity of lyophilic colloids for the dispersion medium leads
to the spontaneous formation of colloidal dispersions
o The Lyophilic colloidal solutions are thermodynamically stable.
They form spontaneously when a solute and solvent are
brought together

o For example, acacia, tragacanth, methylcellulose and certain

other cellulose derivatives readily disperse in water by simple
method of dispersion

ASSOCIATION COLLOIDS
As with lyophilic sols, formation of association colloids is
spontaneous, provided that the concentration of the amphiphile in
solution exceeds the CMC. The concentration of surfactant /
amphiphile monomer at which micelles form is termed the critical
micelle concentration (CMC)
The number of monomers that aggregate to form a micelle is
known as the aggregation number of the micelle

The phenomenon of micelle formation can be explained as follows.

 Below the CMC, the concentration of amphiphile undergoing
adsorption at the air–water interface increases as the total
concentration of amphiphile is raised.
 Eventually, a point is reached at which both the interface and
the bulk phase become saturated with monomers.This is the
CMC
 Any further amphiphile added in excess of this concentration
aggregates to form micelles in the bulk phase
 In the case of amphiphiles in water, the hydrocarbon chains
face inward into the micelle to form, their own hydrocarbon
environment. Surrounding this hydrocarbon core are the polar
portions of the amphiphiles associated with the water
molecules of the continuous phase
 Aggregation also occurs in nonpolar liquids. However, the
orientation of the molecules is reversed, with the polar heads
facing inward while the hydrocarbon chains are associated
with the continuous nonpolar phase
LYOPHOBIC COLLOIDS

It is not easy to prepare lyophobic colloids as they have practically

no affinity for the dispersion medium. Special methods are
required for the preparation of lyophobic sols.

The preparative methods for lyophobic colloids may be divided

into following two categories:

I. Dispersion methods: Involve the breakdown of larger

particles into smaller particles of colloidal dimensions
1. Mechanical dispersion using colloid mill
2. Mechanical dispersion by Ultrasonication
3. Electro-dispersion-Bredig’s arc method
4. Peptization
 II. Condensation methods: In which the colloidal particles are
formed by the aggregation of smaller particles such as
molecules
1. Supersaturation of colloid particles
2. Solvent change
3. Chemical reactions

I. DISPERSION METHODS
1. Mechanical dispersion using colloid mill:
 A direct method is by grinding coarse suspension particles in a
colloid mill
 The breakdown of coarse particles into colloidal size by the
use of a colloid mill having a stator-rotor assembly.
 Colloid mills cause dispersion of the coarse material by
shearing action in a narrow gap between a static (the stator)
and a rapidly rotating cone (the rotor).

2. Ultrasonication/Ultrasonication irradiation:
 The passage of ultrasonic waves through the dispersion
medium produces alternating regions of cavitation and
compression in the medium
 The cavities collapse with great force and cause the
breakdown of coarse particles dispersed in the liquid.
3. Electric dispersion
 This method is used for the preparation of metal sols such as
gold sol, silver sol, platinum sol etc.
 In this method, two electrodes of the metals whose sol is to
be prepared are immersed into the dispersion medium and an
Two metal electrodes
electric arc is produced by the passage of high electric voltage
current through the electrodes.

 The dispersion medium (water) is kept at low temperature by

placing it in ice-bath.
 Some amount of KOH is added to water as a stabilizing agent.
 The intense heat of the spark across the 2 metal electrodes
vaporizes some of the metal that condenses in the cold water
(the dispersion medium) to form to the particles of colloidal
size on cooling.

4. PEPTIZATION:

 Peptization is the method of breaking down the freshly

prepared precipitate particles (finely divided solid) into the
particles of colloidal size.
 This is done by adding suitable electrolytes especially common
ions to the dispersion medium.
 The electrolyte added is called peptizing agent, and it acts to
stabilize the system by preventing coagulation of particles
  The charges necessary for stabilizing colloidal dispersions
comes from the preferential adsorption of specific ions at the
surface of the particles.
Example:
Ferric hydroxide Fe(OH)3 is peptized by the addition of ferric
chloride: Brown coloured colloidal solution is obtained by
addition of Ferric chloride solution into freshly precipitated ferric
hydroxide .This happens due to adsorption of ferric ions on the
surface of precipitate. Accumulation of positively charged ferric
ions (Fe+3) on the surface causes repulsion between them
because of which the large precipitate particles break down into
small particles of colloidal size.

Similarly silver chloride can be converted into a colloidal sol by

adding hydrochloric acid (Cl- being the common ion)

II. CONDENSATION METHOD:

 In this method, particles of sub-colloidal range are made to

aggregate into particles of colloidal range.
1. Supersaturation:
 o These involve fast production of supersaturated solution
of colloidal material under conditions in which particles
are deposited in the dispersion medium as colloidal
particles and not as a precipitate.
o Generally chemical reactions may be involved in this
method that results in the formation of the colloidal
material
o Examples: colloidal sulphur is produced from sodium
thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid solutions; ferric
chloride boiled with an excess of water produces colloidal
hydrated ferric oxide
2. Change of solvent: this lowers the solubility of solute
o If a saturated solution of sulphur in acetone is poured slowly
into hot water, the acetone vaporizes, leaving a colloidal
dispersion of sulphur.
o A similar dispersion may be obtained when a solution of a
resin, such as benzoin in alcohol, is poured into water
3. Chemical methods: Chemical reactions such as oxidation,
reduction, hydrolysis can be used to produce sols. Examples:
Gold colloids can be produced by reducing chlorauric acid
(HAuCl4) with hydrogen peroxide or red phosphorous
Comparison of Properties of Colloidal Sols