SUSPENSION AND THE CHARACTERISTICS (Science 6, Q1 W6)

SUSPENSION AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

by Sir Pj Miana

Suspension and Its Characteristics

What is Suspension?

- A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture where solid particles are dispersed in a liquid or gas but are not completely dissolved.

- The solid particles in a suspension are usually larger and can be seen with the naked eye.

Characteristics of Suspensions:

1. Visible Particles: In a suspension, you can see the solid particles floating around in the liquid or gas. This is because the particles are not dissolved but rather suspended.

2. Settling: If you leave a suspension undisturbed for a while, the solid particles will eventually settle at the bottom. This is due to gravity pulling them down. To reuse the suspension, you need to stir it again.

3. Heterogeneous: Suspensions are always heterogeneous, meaning the components are not evenly distributed. You can have areas with more particles and areas with fewer particles.

4. Filtration: Suspensions can be separated by using a filter. The solid particles get trapped on the filter while the liquid or gas passes through.

5. Temporary Mixtures: Suspensions are usually temporary mixtures because the particles tend to settle over time. For example, sand in water is a suspension, but the sand will settle at the bottom if left undisturbed.

6. Examples: Common examples of suspensions include orange juice with pulp, muddy water, and certain medicines that need to be shaken before use.

7. Particle Size: In a suspension, the solid particles are larger and do not dissolve. They are usually bigger than those found in solutions.

8. Cloud Formation: Even the air can contain suspended particles, like dust and water droplets, which create clouds. These are examples of gas suspensions.

Why Are Suspensions Important?

- Suspensions are important in various fields, such as medicine, food, and science. For instance, many medicines are suspensions because they allow for the even distribution of the active ingredients.

Conclusion:

- Suspensions are mixtures where solid particles are suspended in a liquid or gas but are not dissolved.

- They are characterized by visible particles, settling, heterogeneity, and the need for stirring or shaking.

- Common examples include muddy water and orange juice with pulp.

Understanding suspensions is essential in science and daily life because they are all around us, and knowing how they work can help us use them effectively.

EXERCISE 1: SUSPENSION OR NOT? Tell whether the following is a suspension or not: 

Certainly! Here's a 10-item test where learners need to identify whether something is a suspension or not. Each item provides a description, and students should indicate whether it refers to a suspension (S) or not (N).

**Suspension Identification Test**

1. A mixture of sand and water.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

2. Salt dissolved in a glass of water.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

3. Orange juice with pulp.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

4. Sugar dissolved in a cup of tea.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

5. A clear solution of vinegar in water.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

6. Muddy river water.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

7. Air with dust particles.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

8. A mixture of iron filings and water.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

9. A glass of milk.

   - S (Suspension)

   - N (Not a Suspension)

10. A solution of salt and sugar mixed together in water.

    - S (Suspension)

    - N (Not a Suspension)

Answers:

1. S (Suspension)

2. N (Not a Suspension)

3. S (Suspension)

4. N (Not a Suspension)

5. N (Not a Suspension)

6. S (Suspension)

7. S (Suspension)

8. S (Suspension)

9. S (Suspension)

10. N (Not a Suspension)

This test should help your learners practice identifying suspensions and understanding the characteristics that distinguish them from other types of mixtures.

OTHER EXAMPLES OF SUSPENSION: 

Here are 20 more examples of suspensions that can be seen in daily life:

1. Homemade Salad Dressing: When you mix oil and vinegar, the small vinegar droplets are suspended in the oil.

2. Ketchup: Ketchup often contains small solid particles like spices and seeds suspended in a liquid tomato base.

3. Cough Syrup: Many cough syrups contain tiny particles of medicine suspended in a liquid.

4. Liquid Medicines: Some liquid medicines contain solid particles of the active ingredient that need to be shaken before use.

5. Stirred Paint: Paint often contains pigments that are suspended in a liquid binder.

6. Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows: Marshmallows floating in hot chocolate represent a suspension.

7. Magma: Inside a volcano, molten rock (magma) contains solid mineral crystals that are suspended.

8. Chocolate Milk: Cocoa particles are suspended in milk.

9. Mud Puddles: Mud puddles consist of soil particles suspended in rainwater.

10. Salad Dressing with Herbs: Dressings that contain herbs or spices are suspensions.

11. Sediment in a Water Glass: If you see particles settled at the bottom of a glass of water, it's a suspension.

12. River Water: River water often carries suspended silt and debris.

13. Household Cleaner with Abrasives: Some cleaning products contain abrasive particles suspended in a liquid.

14. Natural Fruit Juices: Juices that are not completely filtered may contain fruit pulp, creating a suspension.

15. Wet Cement: Cement mix is a suspension of cement particles in water.

16. Pancake Batter: Pancake batter contains suspended flour particles in a liquid mixture.

17. Unshaken Salad Dressing: Over time, ingredients in salad dressing can separate, requiring shaking to remix.

18. Slurries: Mixtures used in construction, like concrete and plaster, consist of suspended particles in a liquid.

19. Sea Water: Sea water contains dissolved salts and suspended microscopic particles.

20. Sandy Beach Water: Waves at the beach often stir up sand, creating a suspension in the water.

These examples demonstrate that suspensions are quite common in our everyday experiences, and they can be found in various foods, beverages, and natural phenomena.

SUSPENSION VS. SOLUTION

Suspensions and solutions are both types of mixtures, but they have several key differences based on the way their components interact. Here's how suspensions differ from solutions:

1. Dissolution:

Suspension: In a suspension, solid particles are not fully dissolved in the liquid or gas; instead, they are suspended and remain as separate, visible particles within the mixture.

Solution: In a solution, the solute (usually a solid) is fully dissolved and evenly distributed in the solvent (usually a liquid) at the molecular level. The solute particles are so small that they are not visible, even under a microscope.

2. Particle Size:

Suspension: Suspended solid particles in a suspension are relatively large and can often be seen with the naked eye or a microscope. They are typically larger than 1,000 nanometers in size.

Solution: In a solution, the solute particles are extremely tiny, usually less than 1 nanometer in size. This makes them invisible to the naked eye.

3. Homogeneity:

Suspension: Suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures, meaning that the components are not evenly distributed throughout the entire mixture. There may be areas with more particles and areas with fewer particles, creating a non-uniform appearance.

Solution: Solutions are homogeneous mixtures, which means the solute particles are uniformly distributed throughout the entire solvent. Solutions have a consistent composition and appearance.

4. Settling:

Suspension: Over time, solid particles in a suspension will settle to the bottom due to gravity. This settling can be observed if the mixture is left undisturbed.

Solution: Solutes in a solution do not settle because they are fully dissolved and evenly distributed throughout the solvent. Solutions remain stable and do not exhibit settling.

5. Filtration:

Suspension: Suspensions can often be separated from the liquid or gas by using a filter. The solid particles get trapped on the filter while the liquid or gas passes through.

Solution: Solutions cannot be separated by filtration because the solute particles are too small to be caught by a filter.

In summary, the key difference between suspensions and solutions lies in the size and state of the solute particles, as well as the homogeneity of the mixture. Suspensions have visible, non-dissolved solid particles, are heterogeneous, and can settle over time. Solutions, on the other hand, have solute particles that are fully dissolved at the molecular level, are homogeneous, and do not settle or separate when left undisturbed.