Closing Remarks

While this is the last article of my project, I want to thank some people who viewed my blog and thanks to some of my friends who helped me a little, and also Ms. Lovely for this project :)

Hopefully I can get a high grade for this :)

Thank you!!!!

FAQs

Im here to answer some frequently asked questions about solutions and colloids.

Question: What is a solution?
Answer: A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase.

Question: What is a colloid?
Answer: A colloid is a substance microscopically dispersed throughout another substance.

Question: How does the Tyndall Effect work?
Answer: The Tyndall effect occurs when you shine a light through an object and small particles get in the way of the light reflecting them away, thus making it possible to see the light.

Question: How do you classify colloids?
Answer: A common method of classifying colloids is based on the phase of the dispersed substance and what phase it is dispersed in.

Question: What is the definition of "solubility"?
Answer: Solubility is the ability of one compound to dissolve in another compound.

Question: What is the definition of "concentration"?
Answer: Concentration is the measure of how much of that solute is dissolved in the solvent.

For more information about solutions and colloids.
Please visit the links below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloid 

The Benefits and Risks of Solutions and Colloids

In solutions, everytime time I hear the word "chemicals" I often think of it as dangerous because many people think that it is hazardous to our health and the environment but some chemicals are not that dangerous like sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is used for baking or used as an tooth whitener.

Baking soda is often used in baking and several home remedies

We can benefit from some chemicals like in medicines. Medicines are important because they help cure sickness but too much intake of medicines can be harmful and it can lead to overdose. Water is also important to us and to the environment because water sustains life but it can harm us with contaminated water.
 
Even though some chemicals are not that harmful, we should be always careful on handling chemicals because most of the chemicals are very dangerous to our health and the environment and they're everywhere from houses to our environment.

An example is bleach and ammonia. Bleach and ammonia is commonly used in cleaning the house but if they are mixed together, they will emit deadly fumes that can be extremely dangerous in our health and it may lead to death. 
 

Mixing bleach and ammonia is very hazardous

 

 
In colloids, there are many benefits in colloids, particularly in our health and the field of medicine. Blood is important to us because it help us carry water, oxygen and nutrients, maintains body temperature and helps remove waste materials. Intravenous therapy (IV therapy) also require colloidal substances.

Intravenous therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein

Colloidal silver is a colloid consisting silver particles suspended in liquids. It is used by physicians until 1940s following the development of safer and effective modern antibiotics. It was marketed again in 1990s but they are not effective and it carries risky side effects.

 

Colloidal silver is often debated whether is it safe to use or not

Colloids are also important to the environment. Soils need colloids because they are the most reactive part and they are responsible for most soil properties. They can be mineral particles, usually clay, or organic matter that has decomposed to form humus. Colloids are highly reactive because their small size gives them a relatively large surface area. 

Soil is important to the environment

 

Properties include:

• Cation Adsorption
• Anion Adsorption 
• Moisture Adsorption
• Groundwater Protection
• Soil Structure   

Colloids can be also harmful like using pesticides. Pesticides are important to the agriculture industry because they can help us prevent pests from destroying plants but it is a risky move to use pesticide because it may harm the environment and also humans. Pesticides affect the environment in various ways like contaminating the air, water and soil and harmful effects on plants and animals. Humans are also affected by damaging the respiratory and nervous system.

 

Using pesticides can be helpful and also harmful

To avoid getting affected by harmful substances, handle chemicals safely and keep them in hard to reach areas from childrens. Follow safety precautions and avoid long exposure of harmful chemicals.

 

Reference: 

en.wikipedia.org 

The list is too long.... :)

 

 

Colloids: The Dispersed Substance

A colloid is a substance that is microscopically dispersed throughout another substance.

An example of a colloid is milk

The dispersed-phase particles have a diameter of between approximately 1 and 1000 nanometers.Particles are normally invisible with the use of an optical microscope but they can be seen with an ultramicroscope or an electron microscope.

Types of Colloids
A common method of classifying colloids is based on the phase of the dispersed substance and what phase it is dispersed in. They types of colloids includes sol, emulsion, foam, and aerosol. 

A chart showing the different types of colloids

The Tyndall Effect
When light is shined through a true solution, the light passes cleanly through the solution, however when light is passed through a colloidal solution, the substance in the dispersed phases scatters the light in all directions, making it readily seen. This is called the Tyndall effect, also known as the Tyndall scattering. It is named after the 19th century physicist John Tyndall.

A picture showing the Tyndall effect between water and milk

Light being shined through water and milk. The light is not reflected when passing through the water because it is not a colloid. It is however reflected in all directions when it passes through the milk, which is colloidal.

Reference: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloid
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Solutions/Colloid


 

Solutions: The One-Phase Mixture

A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such mixture, there is a solute and a solvent.

An example of a solution are different kinds of chemicals.

A solute is a substance that is being dissolved while the solvent is the one that does the dissolving.

A diagram showing the properties of a solute and a solvent.

 

 

Characteristics of a Solution:

• A solution is a homogeneous mixture.
• The particles of solute in solution cannot be seen by naked eye.
• The solution does not allow beam of light to scatter.
• A solution is stable.
• The solute from the solution cannot be separated by filtration (or mechanically). 

Properties of a Solution
Colligative properties are properties of solutions that depend upon the ratio of the number of solute particles to the number of solvent molecules in a solution, and not on the type of chemical species present.
  
 Colligative properties include: 

• Relative lowering of vapor pressure 
• Elevation of boiling point
• Depression of freezing point 
• Osmotic pressure.
  

Concentration is the abundance of a constituent divided by the total volume of a mixture.

Reference: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution
 
 

A Short Introduction

Hello, My name is Angelo and im here to discuss about the different solutions and colloids, their benefits and risks. There is a chart down there to refresh your knowledge about the different types of matter (Note: solutions are under homogeneous mixtures while colloids are under heterogeneous mixtures along with suspensions).

A simple chart showing the different types of matter.

 Actually this is my project in Science and I know that it may be a bit "amateurish" like using "copy and paste" for most of the contents but please appreciate my work especially Ms. Lovely, my class adviser and Science teacher.

A "representation" of Ms. Lovely :)