Question

The scattering of light by colloidal particles present in a colloidal solution is called ______

Answer 1

Concept used:

1. Scattering of light: When a light beam passes through a medium, it collides with the particles that are present. Some light rays are absorbed, while others are scattered in diverse directions.
2. Colloidal particle: Small solid particles suspended in a fluid phase are known as colloidal particles. Their size ranges from 10 nanometers to many microns.
3. Colloidal Solution: Colloidal solutions are mixtures in which insoluble particles from one component are suspended in another. The size of the suspended particles in a colloid can range from 1 to 1000 nanometres.

Explanation:

1. When light is passed through a colloidal solution it scatters in different directions. This is due to the Tyndall effect.
2. The Tyndall effect is the phenomenon of light scattering by particles in a colloidal solution.
3. The quantity of scattering is determined by the frequency of the light and the particle density.

Hence, the scattering of light by colloidal particles present in a colloidal solution is called the Tyndall effect.