Suspension: The Liquid Containing Suspended Particles

Suspension is a type of mixture in which a liquid contains some suspended particles of solid or liquid that are visible to the naked eye. The particles do not dissolve in the liquid and eventually settle down due to gravity. Suspension is a heterogeneous mixture as the composition of the mixture is not uniform throughout the container.

Examples of Suspension

- Mud in water: The mixture of water and mud is an example of suspension. When mud is mixed with water, it forms a cloudy mixture in which the mud particles are suspended in water.

- Paint: Paint is also a suspension in which pigments are suspended in a liquid medium. The pigments do not dissolve in the medium and eventually settle down if left undisturbed for a long time.

- Blood: Blood is a suspension of cells and plasma. The red and white blood cells are suspended in the plasma, which is a liquid medium. Blood is an example of a biological suspension.

Properties of Suspension

- Suspended particles are visible to the naked eye and can be seen floating in the liquid.

- The mixture appears cloudy or opaque due to the presence of suspended particles.

- The particles do not dissolve in the liquid and eventually settle down due to gravity.

- The composition of the mixture is not uniform throughout the container.

- Suspensions can be separated by filtration, sedimentation, or centrifugation.

Conclusion

Suspension is a type of mixture in which a liquid contains some suspended particles of solid or liquid that are visible to the naked eye. The particles do not dissolve in the liquid and eventually settle down due to gravity. Suspensions can be separated by filtration, sedimentation, or centrifugation.