Lyophilic colloids are mixtures of small particles strongly attracted to the liquid they are dispersed in, resulting in a stable freeze-dried sol. They are easily produced and more stable than lyophobic colloids. Colloidal science is an interdisciplinary field that studies both types of colloids and has progressed with advances in physics and chemistry.
“Lyophilic” is a term used to describe a type of colloidal mixture composed of a colloid strongly attracted to the liquid in which it is dispersed. Colloids are a type of mixture made up of very small particles of one material that have been evenly distributed in another. “Lyo” means solvent and “phylic” means to love. Lyophilic colloids exert a strong attraction between the colloidal particles and the liquid.
The creation of this mixture results in what is called freeze-dried sol. In a lyophilized sol, the size of the dispersed particles is smaller than the size of the particles in a suspension but larger than the molecules in a solution. When the particles are dispersed in water, these colloids are called hydrophilic colloids.
The term “lyophilic colloid” comes from the beginnings of the soap industry, when soap was created by boiling lye in vegetable oil. Lye was obtained by leaching wood ash with water. Boiling lye in vegetable oil made soap.
Lyophiles are formed from substances such as rubber, starch and proteins. Mixing the colloid with the liquid produces the sol. Lyophilic colloids that are dispersed in water are called hydrophilic colloids and the dispersion created in this mixture is called hydrophilic sol.
These types of colloids are generally stable and can be prepared by agitating the dispersion medium with the material to be dispersed. Gelatine and egg whites are good examples of these types of freeze dryers. Gum, protein, and gum are other common examples of lyophilic colloids. It should be noted that these types of colloids are easily produced by simple means and are generally more stable than lyophobic colloids.
The study of colloidal science is not as developed as other areas of the scientific arena. There has been a trend within scientific academia to avoid the study of colloidal science because it does not appear to fall within the defined boundaries of chemistry or physics. This was partly due to the complexity of the science.
Colloidal science is a very interdisciplinary course of study. It includes the study of lyophilic colloids and lyophobic colloids, which are characterized by a lack of attraction between the colloidal particles and the liquid. The study often works with materials of dubious composition and questions the precision and subjectivity of the analysis and interpretation of the results.
Advances in understanding physics and chemistry have allowed colloidal research to progress at a more rapid pace. Understanding these fundamental scientific principles has allowed the formulation of coherent theories about the nature of the colloidal world. The study progressed to include relatively simple descriptive information and a complex theory of colloidal behavior and principles.
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