Biophysics II: Colloids, Properties, and States
Biophysics II
Colloids
Colloids are suspensions of very small particles (micelles), even much larger than the dispersed molecules within a liquid. They are also called pseudo-solutions or colloidal solutions.
State of Sol and Gel
Protoplasmic colloids undergo sol-gel processing, also called reversal or phase change. Colloids present an intermediate state between solid, liquid, and gas. States in the protoplasm of sol and gel usually alternate due to changes in concentration. The most important sols in biology are protein dispersions in water.
Types of Colloids According to the Physical State of the Phases
The dispersant phase can be a solid, liquid, or gas, just as the dispersed phase may be liquid, solid, or gaseous. The passage from a sol to a...