d or distributed
through it, the mixture may be either a true solution, a colloidal
solution, or a mechanical suspension. The characteristic differences
between these three conditions may be tabulated as follows: although the
significance of some of the phrases used will not be apparent until the
phenomena in question have been considered in some detail.

-----------------------+------------------------+------------------------
True Solutions. | Colloidal Solutions. | Suspensions.
-----------------------+------------------------+------------------------
| |
(_a_) Particles of the | |
disperse phase are: | |
| |
In molecular | In colloidal | In mechanical
subdivision | subdivision | subdivision
| |
Invisible | Visible under | Visible under
| "ultrascope" | microscope or to naked
| | eye
| |
Less than 1 mu mu | 1 mu mu to 1 mu in diameter | Greater than 1 mu in
in diameter[6] | | diameter
| |
Pass through filters | Pass through filters | Do not pass through and
parchment membranes | but not through | filters or parchment
| parchment |
| |
In molecular motion | In Brownian movement | In gravitational
| | movement
| |
(_b_) The system | |
exhibits: | |
| |
High osmotic pressure | Low osmotic pressure | No osmotic pressure
| |
Transparency | "Tyndall phenomenon" | Is generally opaque
| |
No gel-formation | Forms gels | No gel-formation
| |
-----------------------+------------------------+------------------------

FOOTNO