Question:medium

Lyophilic sols are more stable than lyophobic sols because,

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Remember the meanings of the terms: "lyo" refers to solvent, "philic" means loving, and "phobic" means hating. Lyophilic sols are "solvent-loving," so the strong interaction (solvation) with the solvent is their key feature and the reason for their high stability.
Updated On: Feb 18, 2026
  • the colloidal particles have positive charge.
  • the colloidal particles have no charge.
  • the colloidal particles are solvated.
  • there is a strong electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged colloidal particles.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Lyophilic sols are characterized as being more stable than lyophobic sols, and determining the reason for this requires an understanding of colloidal chemistry concepts.

  1. The term "lyophilic" indicates that the colloidal particles have a strong affinity towards the solvent. This property arises because the particles can interact strongly with the solvent molecules, often by forming a hydration or solvation layer around themselves.
  2. This solvation, or the process where the colloidal particles are surrounded by a layer of solvent molecules, plays a crucial role in the stability of lyophilic sols. The presence of the solvation layer helps prevent the particles from coming close enough to aggregate.
  3. Given the options provided:
    • "The colloidal particles have a positive charge" is incorrect, as stability in lyophilic sols is not primarily due to electrical charges on particles.
    • "The colloidal particles have no charge" is incorrect because charge does not solely account for the stability in lyophilic sols.
    • "The colloidal particles are solvated" is the correct answer because the interaction between colloidal particles and the solvent significantly enhances the stability.
    • "There is a strong electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged colloidal particles" pertains more to stabilization in lyophobic sols through charge repulsion, rather than solvation.
  4. Therefore, the correct answer is that lyophilic sols are more stable due to the solvation of the colloidal particles by the solvent.
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