Types of Colloids

5. Liquid Foam
When gas is dispersed in a liquid medium, a colloid called liquid foam is produced. Examples of liquid foams are froth, soap lather, and whipped cream.

6. Aerosols
Colloids of gas are called aerosols. There are solid and liquid aerosols. Smoke is an aerosol made up of very fine solid particles dispersed in gas, while fog is composed of liquid substances dispersed in gas. Soot and dispersed dust are solid aerosols. As previously mentioned, soot and dispersed dust can also be considered examples of suspension when their particles settle. Insecticides and hair spray mists are examples of liquid aerosols. The clouds, which are tiny water droplets dispersed in air, are also aerosols.

Uses of Colloids
People use colloids in different ways. Colloids such as milk, butter, gelatin, jelly, and whipped cream become part of the food you eat. Simple colloids like dough are made into bread. The gel that is applied on hair is a colloid. The pen ink that you use for writing is also a colloid. Colloids are also used in making other products such as paint, dyestuff, paper, and lubricant.

Medicines in colloidal form are easily absorbed by the body tissues. Due to the colloidal solution of the blood, the blood clots or coagulates to stop bleeding when one is wounded. The blood consists of solid particles (the red and white blood cells and the platelets) in the plasma, which can be considered a kind of colloid.