What is the Difference Between Solution Suspension and Emulsion

The key difference between solution suspension and emulsion is that a solution is a mixture of two miscible components forming a homogenous mixture with comparatively very small particles, and suspension is a heterogeneous mixture of two or components in which the particle size is larger, whereas emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible liquids or liquids that are partially miscible.

A solution is a mixture of two or more substances that is generally in the liquid state, while a suspension is a turbid dispersion having large particles that are visible to the naked eye. An emulsion, on the other hand, is a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Solution
3. What is a Suspension
4. What is an Emulsion
5. Solution vs Suspension vs Emulsion in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Solution vs Suspension vs Emulsion

What is a Solution?

A solution can be described as a mixture of two or more substances, and it essentially occurs in the liquid state. Typically, a solution has two major components: the solvent and the solute. We can dissolve the solutes in a suitable solvent. This mixing takes place depending on the polarities of the solutes and solvent (“like dissolves like” – polar solutes dissolve in polar solvents and nonpolar solutes dissolve in nonpolar solvents, but polar solutes do not dissolve in solvents). Moreover, the nature of a solution is homogeneous. This means the solvent and solute are distributed evenly throughout this mixture.

A solution usually occurs as a clear liquid substance with no turbidity. Furthermore, a solution is very stable and diffuses rapidly. The particles of the solution are below 1 nanometer in dimensions. Therefore, these particles cannot be seen from the naked eye. Furthermore, these particles do not settle down spontaneously; we can settle the particles in a solution only via centrifugation. In addition, we cannot separate their particles via filtration or sedimentation.

What is a Suspension?

A suspension is a turbid dispersion having large particles that are visible to the naked eye. These particles have dimensions above 1 micrometer. Generally, these are solid particles that can settle down spontaneously and in sedimentation. Furthermore, the particles in the suspension can be separated from the suspension via filtration. The nature of the suspension is heterogeneous; this means the particles are unevenly distributed throughout the suspension. Since it has a turbid appearance and large particles, it can scatter a light beam that passes through it (opaque nature). In addition, it does not show diffusion. Furthermore, a suspension may or may not show the Tyndall effect and Brownian motion.

The heterogeneous nature of the suspension comes from solute particles that do not dissolve but remain suspended throughout the bulk of the solvent. These particles float around freely in the medium. A good example of a suspension is sand in water. We can see suspended sand particles in this suspension using a microscope. These suspended particles are settled with time if we keep the suspension undisturbed.

What is an Emulsion?

An emulsion can be described as a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible. In other words, it is a mixture of two liquids that are immiscible with each other. An emulsion is a type of colloid. We often tend to use the two words emulsion and colloid interchangeably, but the term emulsion specifically explains the mixture of two liquids that form a colloid.

Generally, an emulsion has two phases: a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase. In this two-phase system, the discontinuous phase is distributed throughout the continuous phase. When the continuous phase is water, we can name the emulsion or the colloid as a hydrocolloid. The boundary between the two liquids in an emulsion is called the “interface.”

Furthermore, an emulsion has a cloudy appearance. This appearance is a result of the presence of a phase interface that can scatter a light beam that passes through the emulsion. When all the light rays are scattered equally, an emulsion appears as a white liquid.