Types of colloidal solution

1. Depending on dispersion medium and dispersed phase:

Dispersion medium	Dispersed phase	Type of colloid
Solid	Solid	Solid sol Ex: gem stones, glasses
	Liquid	Gel Ex: cheese, butter, gelatin
	Gas	Solid foam Ex: pumice stone
Liquid	Solid	Sol Ex: paints, ink, blood
	Liquid	Emulsion Ex: milk, mayonnaise, hand cream
	Gas	Foam Ex: whipped cream, shaving cream
Gas	Solid	Solid aerosol Ex: smoke, ice cloud, atmospheric particulate matter
	Liquid	Liquid aerosol Ex: fog, hair sprays, mist, cloud
	Gas	None All gases are miscible and thus do not form colloids
Examples:

2. Based on nature of interaction between dispersed phase and dispersion medium:

a. Lyophobic

b. Lyophilic

a. Lyophobic:

⇒ Liquid-hating

⇒ Colloidal solutions in which dispersed phase has very little affinity for the dispersion medium.

⇒ Form precipitates on adding small amounts of electrolytes

⇒ These are less stable and irreversible in nature.

⇒ These are also called suspensoids.

b. Lyophilic:

⇒ Liquid loving

⇒ Dispersed phase has great affinity for dispersion medium.

⇒ These are stable and reversible in nature. These are also called emulsoids. 

⇒ The colloidal solutions are also named according to the dispersion phase or medium used.

Dispersion Medium	Name of Colloidal Solutions
Water	Hydrosols
Alcohol	Alcosols
Benzene	Benzosols
Air	Aerosols