To determine which colloid is a better protective colloid, we need to understand the concept of the "gold number." The gold number is a measure of the protective power of a colloid. It is defined as the minimum amount of a protective colloid in milligrams required to prevent the coagulation (or precipitation) of 10 mL of a standard gold sol by the addition of 1 mL of 10% sodium chloride solution. A lower gold number indicates a better protective colloid because it means that a smaller amount of the colloid is required to provide protection.
Let's analyze the given gold numbers for each colloid:
From these values, Gelatin has the smallest range of gold numbers (0.005 - 0.01), indicating that it requires the least amount to effectively protect against coagulation. Therefore, it is the best protective colloid among the options provided.
To conclude, Gelatin is a better protective colloid than the other substances listed because it has the lowest gold number.