Experiment #5: COLLOIDS

MANUNTAG, Monica Earl

TUMIMBANG, Glenn Vincent
Group 5, Chemistry 14.1, Ms. Fatima Cruz
March 27, 2012

I. ABSTRACT

A colloid is a type of mixture in which a substance is dispersed evenly over another, basing its
definition on the particle size, which is from 1 to 100 nanometers or 10-9 meters. A colloidal system has
two phases: the dispersing or continuous phase and the dispersed or internal phase. The former refers to
the medium used while the latter are the particles present in the system. Sols are classified under
colloids, a type of dispersion to which a solid is dispersed in liquid. Aerosols, a colloidal system in which a
liquid is dispersed in either a solid or a gas, is also classified here. And finally, emulsions, a dispersion of
liquid in liquid, is also considered as a type of colloid. This system can either exist in a solid, liquid, or
gaseous state, and it has two properties: Tyndall effect or the ability of the particles to scatter light and
precipitation or the formation of insoluble solid in liquid.

Preparation of colloids may be done either through dispersion or condensation. During

dispersion, large-sized particles are dispersed to break them down to colloidal size, an example of which
is the addition of an emulsifying agent. On the other hand, condensation is a way of uniting molecule-
sized particles to form colloid-sized particles.

The experiment aims to determine the differences between the various kinds of colloids, as well
as the properties they exhibit. The experiment also aims to compare the two principal methods in
preparing colloidal system, dispersion and condensation.

III. KEYWORDS: Colloids, Solution, Suspension, Dispersed phase, Dispersing medium, Sol, Lyophobic,
Lyophilic, Emulsion, Tyndall effect, Precipitation

III. INTRODUCTION boiling point then freshly prepared 1 M FeCl3

Colloid is a type of mixture in which a
substance dispersed evenly throughout another
substance, both of which existing either as a
solid, liquid, of gas. These combinations of
dispersion give us the different types of colloidal
systems which include familiar examples like
clouds, fog, mist, smoke, soap, milk,
mayonnaise, whipping cream, and even blood.
The objective of this experiment is to
compare the difference between the two
principal methods of preparing colloids: the
method of condensation and the method of
dispersion. Furthermore, the experiment will be
able to determine the different types of colloids,
as well as the properties they exhibit.
IV. EXPERIMENTAL PROCUDURE
For the preparation of colloids, first, fifty
mL of water was heated until it reaches its
was added by dropping. Dropping was
continued until a change in color can be
observed. The solution was allowed to cool for
use in the next procedure.
A pinch of sulfur was added to 50 mL of
water and then stirred. In another set-up, alcohol
was heated in a water bath. A pinch of sulfur
was added and then the solution was poured
into a 50 mL beaker of water. The two set-ups
were observed and compared.
Next, the proponents placed 10 mL of
water in a test tube and added 1 mL of oil while
shaking. After observing, it was set aside for 10-
20 minutes. Then, 5 mL of concentrated soap
solution was added and the test tube was shook.
Again, changes that can be observed were
noted.
 The next part of the experiment was the Positive; light can be seen
Alexanders patriotic tube. First, a small amount Sulfur sol passing through the cloudy
of agar was dissolved in 15 mL of boiling water. mixture; scattered
Two drops of 1 M NaOH, a few drops of Negative; light passed through
phenolphthalein to turn it pink, and 1 mL of 1 M CuSO4 sol completely without being
Potassium Ferrocyanide (K4[Fe(CN)6]) was scattered.
added. The solution was immediately pured into Positive; light can be seen
a test tube and was set aside for the agar to cool Dilute milk passing through the cloudy
into gel. The test tube was corked and let stand white mixture; scattered
for an hour. Positive; light can be seen
Boiled Starch
passing through the cloudy
The third part of the experiment was the Solution
white solution; scattered
preparation of colloids. For the first part of Unboiled Negative; light passed through
preparation of colloids, which is the Tyndall Starch completely without being
effect, Fe(OH)3 sol was placed in a test tube Solution scattered.
and observed at a right angle against a beam of Positive; light can be seen
light form a flashlight. The same was done to Soap Solution passing through the light green
sulfur sol, copper sulfate solution, dilute solution; scattered
evaporated milk, boiled starch solution, unboiled Negative; light passed through
starch solution and soap solution. The Distilled Water completely without being
observations were compared to distilled water scattered.
as negative reference.
Table 3. Precipitation
Next is the experiment on precipitation. PRECIPITANT OBSERVATION
Fe(OH)3 sol was placed in three separate test
tubes with 2 mL of solution. The first test tube 1 M NaNO3 Less was formed
was added with 10 drops of 1 m NaNO3, 10 1 M Na2SO4 Least precipitate formed
drops of 1 M Na2SO4 to the second and 10 1 M Na3PO4 Most precipitate formed
drops 1 M Na3PO4 to the third. They were then
observed for the amount of precipitate present. VI. DISCUSSIONS
V. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS A colloidal dispersion is a type of
mixture whose properties are between
Table 1. Preparation of Colloids heterogeneous mixtures and homogenous
COLLOID OBSERVATION solutions. The dimensions of its particles range
The color changed to brownish from 1 to 100 nanometers. It has two phases
Fe(OH)3 sol
orange. namely, the dispersed phase and the dispersing
Sulfur did not dissolve in water. phase. The dispersed phase are the particles
Sulfur (in
Some particles settled at the itself while the dispersing phase is the medium
water)
bottom while others floated. or the solvent.
Sulfur sol (in The solution turned cloudy
hot alcohol while particles of sulfur settled Colloids may be prepared through
and water) at the bottom. dispersion or condensation. Dispersion is the
Two observable layers can be process of breaking down large particles to
Oil (in water) observed with oil on top of colloidal size. Examples of these are grinding
water. and adding an emulsifying agent. On the other
A cloudy yellow layer (water hand, condensation is the process of making
Oil (in soap and oil) formed beneath the particles of molecular size unite to form particles
and water) bubbly and green soap of colloidal size.
solution.
There are several kinds of colloids. We
Table 2. Tyndall Effect have the sols which is the dispersion of solid in
SYSTEM OBSERVATION liquid, the dispersion of liquid in liquid which we
Negative; light passed through call emulsions, dispersion of liquid or solid in
Fe(OH)3 sol gases known as aerosols, foams-dispersion of
completely without scattering
liquid in solid and gels which is the dispersion of
liquid in solid.
In the first part of the experiment, the
colloid medium or the particles of Fe(OH)3 sol
and the particles of the sulfur sol, did not mix
well with the dispersing medium or water. This is
because according to the solubility rules,
Fe(OH)3 and sulfur are insoluble in water. Also,
the shape of the sulfur (S8) has a large surface
area for the solvent to dissolve. On the other
hand, sulfur in hot alcohol and water partially
dissolved sulfur since ethanol is less polar and
heated as well.
The second part of the experiment
involved the dispersion of liquid in liquid or
emulsion. Oil was mixed with water, and was
later added with soap solution. At first, the oil
formed scattered droplets in water; but after
leaving it for some time, the oil droplets started
to gather on top of the water, forming a distinct
layer. The soap solution was then added and
chemically interacted with both the oil and the
water. It acted as an emulsifier, a substance that
stabilizes an emulsion, therefore stabilizing the
interface between the oil and the water in the
suspension. Interestingly, the same principle is
used in soap to remove grease in dishwares and
other objects for cleaning.
The next part of the experiment is the
Alexanders Patriotic Tube. Gel, a type of colloid
where liquid is dispersed in solid, was made.
Three layers have been formed: pink, white-
yellow and blue. The bottom part was pink
caused by phenolphthalein, a base indicator,
due to the presence of base. H2O and FeCl3
formed Fe(OH)3. The bluish part called Prussian
Blue was made from this reaction FeCl3 +
K4[Fe(CN)6]KCl + Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3. The
arrangement of layers is made such that way
due to the densities of the ions and compounds
in the system.
The next part was the experiment on the
Tyndall effect. The systems that exhibited
Tyndall effect were the following: Sulfur sol,
dilute milk, and boiled starch solution exhibited
Tyndall effect. On the other hand, no scattering
was observed with the Fe(OH)3 sol, copper
sulfate solution, soap solution and distilled
water. Theoretically, the Fe(OH)3 sol, sulfur sol,
dilute milk, boiled starch solution, unboiled
starch solution (+/-) and soap solution should
have exhibited Tyndall effect while the CuSO4
sol and the distilled water are the only ones that
will not exhibit Tyndall effect.
The last part involves precipitation.
Precipitates of varying quantities formed on
each test tube. These are the reactions involved
in each test tube:
Fe(OH)3 + 3NaNO3 ----> Fe(NO3)3 + 3NaOH
2Fe(OH)3+3Na2SO4 ----> Fe2(SO4)3 +6NaOH
Fe(OH)3 + Na3PO4 ----> Fe(PO4) + 3NaOH
The quantity of the precipitates formed is
based on the charges of the ions that will attach
to the Fe3+. Since the PO4 is the most
electronegative among the others, it yielded the
most prominent precipitates. SO4 came next
while NO3 has the least.
VII. GUIDE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. Why is sulfur not soluble in water?
What kind of colloidal dispersion is a
sol?
The basic principle in solubility, like
dissolves like, enabled the immiscibility
of sulfur to water. Since water is polar
while sulfur is not, the two did not mix.
That is why sulfur particles either settled
at the bottom or floated.
A sol is a type of colloid of very small
solid particles dispersed in a liquid that
retains the physical properties of a
liquid. It is a lyophobic (solvent-hating)
suspension of solid particles (1-1000 nm
in size) in a liquid.
2. How would you account for the
observation in procedure IA-b2?
Sulfur is a nonpolar crystalline structure
which makes it harder to dissolve in
water under normal conditions. The less
 polar ethanol was able to dissolve the
sulfur under the presence of heat. A
lyophobic colloid was formed when the
sulfur-alcohol mixture solution was
added to water.
3. What is the role of soap solution in
the oil emulsion prepared in
procedure IB?
The presence of polar and nonpolar
ends in a soap solution bridged the
immiscibility of oil and water. In the
molecular point of view, the soap,
having a lipophilic end, covers and stops
the oil from separating from the water
molecules. This structure is called
micelle. On the other hand, the water
molecules is attracted to these lipophilic
ends and therefore, exhibiting a
miscibility with the oil. The soap is called
the emulsifying agent.
4. Give an explanation for the results
obtained in procedure II. What
ions/compounds are responsible for
the different colors observed in the
Alexanders patriotic tube?
There were four observable layers in the
Alexanders patriotic tube. The bottom
gelatinous layer is composed of agar,
NaOH, and phenolphthalein, which is
seen as pink (due to the presence of a
base and a base-indicator). The
transparent part above it is caused by
the chlorine entering and dispersing to
the matrix of the gel. The upper layer,
which is blue in color, was formed from
the reaction of ferric chloride with
potassium ferrocyanide. This layer is
Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 or Prussian blue, which is
a highly insoluble substance but tends
to form colloids. And finally, the topmost
layer, yellow in color, is from the excess
ferric chloride.
5. What causes Tyndall effect?
Tyndall effect is the effect of light
scattering on particles in colloidal
systems. It is caused by reflection of
light by very small particles in
suspension in a transparent medium.
This is exhibited when dust particles are
seen in the air when sunlight strikes
them or when the lights emitted by the
headlights from a car on a dusty road
can be seen.
The Tyndall effect is used to tell the
difference between the different types of
mixtures, namely solution, colloid, and
suspension.
VIII. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Colloids are mixtures wherein a
substance is dispersed throughout another.
Their distinct properties (e.g. Tyndall effect and
precipitation) make colloids different from
solutions and suspensions. Since these are
mixtures, they are physically combined so we
may also separate them by physical means like
undergoing dialysis.
Colloids are everywhere. We may find it
from the food we eat, the air we breathe and
even in nature. It is important for us to know the
properties of colloid that differentiate it from
solutions and suspensions. Through testing
Tyndall effect and observing precipitation, we
may say that a sample is a colloid. Aside from
that the nature of substance involved,
temperature and polarity may also affect a
colloidal system.
It is recommended in this experiment to
calculate exact amounts of reagents to obtain
results close to the theoretical yield. Following
the procedures strictly in this experiment can
help achieve theoretical results.
Below are summaries of the types of colloids
and the differences between colloid, solution
and suspension:
IX. REFERENCES

Brown, T. L., Lemay Jr., H. E., Bursten, B.

th
E. Chemistry: The Central Science (9
ed.). Singapore: Pearson Education
(Asia) Pte Ltd.

Committee on General Chemistry (2006).

Laboratory manual in general chemistry

(2006 ed.). Manila, Philippines:
University of the Philippines Manila

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006

Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.

I hereby certify that I have given substantial

contribution to this report.

Manuntag, Monica Earl

Tumimbang, Glenn Vincent