Question

Blood is an example of:

• A. True solution
• B. Colloidal solution
• C. Saturated solution
• D. Suspension

Hint:

Blood is a colloidal solution, where solid particles (like blood cells) are suspended in a liquid (plasm(A).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Blood is classified as a colloidal solution. To understand why, let's analyze the characteristics of blood and compare them to different types of solutions.

• True solution: In true solutions, the solute particles are ions or small molecules that are completely dissolved and distributed uniformly within the solvent. The particles in true solutions are usually less than 1 nanometer in diameter and cannot be seen under a microscope. Blood, however, contains cells and proteins that are much larger and are visible under a microscope, placing it outside the realm of true solutions.
• Saturated solution: A saturated solution occurs when a solvent cannot dissolve any more solute at a given temperature and pressure. Blood does not fit this description as it isn't a simple solute-solvent mixture but rather a complex medium with cellular elements.
• Suspension: In suspensions, the particles are larger than 1 micrometer and can be separated by filtration. These particles eventually settle out. In blood, the particles do not settle out in the same way as they are stabilized by surrounding plasma, indicating that blood is not a suspension.
• Colloidal solution: In colloids, the particles range from 1 nanometer to 1 micrometer, remaining evenly distributed throughout the solution. Blood consists of plasma proteins, such as albumin, which form a colloidal structure. The colloidal particles in blood include these proteins, as well as other larger components such as cells that remain suspended and do not settle out, meeting the criteria of a colloidal solution.

Therefore, the correct answer is that blood is a colloidal solution.

Answer 2

Blood is being classified here. Check each option against blood's known composition of plasma, proteins, and blood cells.

1. True solution: a true solution's particles are single ions or small molecules, far smaller than blood cells and plasma proteins, so blood does not fit this category.
2. Colloidal solution: blood plasma carries proteins like albumin and suspended blood cells that stay evenly dispersed without settling under normal conditions, which is colloidal behavior.
3. Saturated solution: this term is about a dissolved solute reaching its solubility limit, unrelated to the cells and proteins carried in blood.
4. Suspension: a suspension settles out under gravity fairly quickly, but blood cells stay dispersed in circulating and even standing blood far longer than a true suspension would allow.

Blood's proteins and cells stay evenly dispersed without dissolving down to molecular size or settling like a suspension, matching a colloid.

So the correct answer is colloidal solution.