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Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution

Chapter 4, Problem 13.85a

(a) Do colloids made only of gases exist? Why or why not?

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All right. Hello everyone. So this question is a true or false colloids made only of liquids exist. Explain now here options A and B propose that the statement is true because colloids of any phase combination exist as long as one of the components is for option A, a liquid or solid. And for option B A liquid or gas options C and D propose that the statement is false either because only components of different phases can form colloids or because liquids always form solutions respectively. So first, let's go ahead and recall what a colloid actually is. Recall that a colloid is a type of mixture in which one substance of microscopically dispersed particles is suspended throughout another substance. And so just to go ahead and summarize that definition, a colloid is where we have dispersed particles suspended in another substance. Now, those particles can either be insoluble or soluble. And so when considering the three basic states of matter, the only combination of phases that cannot form a colloid is a combination between two gasses. In other words, a combination of two gasses cannot form colloids. This is because gas particles are inherently too far apart from each other with very, very weak intermolecular forces. And this prevents them from combining homogeneously or actually let me correct myself. This allows them to always combine homogeneously. And so therefore, what that means to say is that colloids made of liquids are always possible. This is because liquids are not always soluble are not always miscible due to differences in polarity. But that doesn't necessarily mean that those liquids cannot combine at all. This allows for the formation of a very specific type of colloid known as emulsions which we encounter many of in our daily lives. Common examples of emotions include milk and mayonnaise. And so with all this being said, our answer is going to be option a in the multiple choice. The statement is true because colloids of any phase combination exists as long as one of the components is a liquid or solid. And so with that being said, thank you so very much for watching. And I hope you found this helpful.