Hydrosol (source code)

= Hydrosol

A <hydrosol> is a <colloid> whose continuous liquid medium is <water>. For example, small solid particles dispersed in <water> form a <hydrosol> when they remain dispersed on the relevant observational timescale. This differs from a molecular solution: the dispersed objects are particles with interfaces, rather than individual dissolved <ions> or <molecules>.

<Surface charge> and adsorbed layers can inhibit aggregation. Changing <ionic strength> can alter electrostatic screening and destabilize a charged <hydrosol>, while <Brownian motion> competes with settling. “Hydro” identifies the dispersion medium; it does not specify one particle composition or one stabilization mechanism.