Answer – In chemistry, a suspension is defined as a heterogeneous mixture wherein solid particles are dispersed in a liquid and remain undissolved. In other words, the solid particles are “suspended” in the liquid.
Explanation:
A suspension’s solid particles are often large enough—greater than 1000 nm—and hence clearly visible. The particle size causes such a mixture to scatter any light passing through it (known as the Tyndall effect).
While the solid particles settle over time when left undisturbed, the mixture is considered a suspension only when they remain unsettled. Further, since the particles remain separate from the liquid, they can easily be filtered out.
Examples of suspensions in chemistry include:
1. Chalk powder in water
2. Muddy water
3. Milk of magnesia (mixture of magnesium hydroxide and water)
When solid or liquid particles are suspended in a gas, the heterogenous mixture is known as an aerosol.
Suspensions are often confused with colloids. Unlike suspensions, colloids are homogeneous mixtures with dispersed particles ranging from 1–1000 nm in size.
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