Importance of Colloids
The study of colloids, lyophobic, lyophilic, molecular, or colloidal electrolytes is important not only for the satisfaction of an inquisitive mind but also from the practical point of view. There is hardly any field where these little particles, with their electric charge and incessant zigzag motion, do not show their influence and importance. The human body with all its intricacies is principally composed of colloids. Blood is a dispersion colloid where corpuscles are dispersed in a liquid medium known as blood serum. The serum itself is a colloidal solution of a number of molecular colloids of proteins.
Thus blood is a colloidal suspension in another molecular colloid. Digestion of most food we, eat, are caused by enzymes, again a colloid; the food particles are broken down to the colloidal dimension or absorption in the body. Even the food we take is mostly colloids, notable amongst them are the proteins which are associated with the very process of our life. No less important is milk, butter, and cheese. The garments we wear to protect ourselves are made of colloids, whether it is made of cotton or Dacron, wool or nylon, rayon or silk. The paints and varnishes that decorate a multitude of things and protect materials against corrosion are colloids. The entire family of cosmetics is colloids of different types and finds a variety of use. The paper we write on, the ink we write with, the ink we print with, are only a few of many colloids we use every day. Around us, we have our atmosphere, which is an aerosol, below us we have soil and clay which are alto colloids. Thus we ourselves are colloids, we live on colloids.
