Question

Question 16
Explain why particles of a colloidal solution do not settle down when left undisturbed, while in the case of a suspension they do?

Answer 1

The colloidal particles are smaller and not heavy. They always remain in a state of zig-zag motion, called the Brownian movement, which counters the force of gravity acting on colloidal particles and hence, helps in providing stability to colloidal sols by not allowing them to settle down. Apart from this, colloidal particles are charged and repel each other.
This fact also does not allow the particles of colloidal solution to settle down. Whereas particles of suspension are larger, heavy and have less movement, thus settle down due to gravity.