Science Common Sense

1038 - What is the difference between a solution and a colloid?

Imagine you have a glass of water with different mixtures in it.

A 'solution' is when the molecules of one substance are completely mixed with another substance. For example, if you add sugar to water and stir it, the sugar dissolves completely and you can't see it anymore. This is because the sugar molecules are mixed evenly with the water molecules.

A 'colloid', on the other hand, is when the particles of one substance are not completely mixed with another substance, but are still suspended in it. For example, if you add milk to water, the milk particles don't dissolve completely and you can see them as tiny white specks floating in the water.

So, the main difference between a solution and a colloid is that a solution has completely dissolved molecules, while a colloid has suspended particles that you can see or feel.