Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks which statement correctly describes a deflocculated suspension, one where the particles have not been made to clump together.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
How fast a particle settles in a liquid follows Stokes' law, where the settling velocity depends on the square of the particle's diameter. Small individual particles settle slowly, while larger aggregates (flocs) made of many particles stuck together settle much faster.
\[ v \propto d^2 \]
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
In a deflocculated suspension, a dispersing agent or repulsive surface charge keeps particles apart, so no large flocs form and each particle is small on its own. By Stokes' law, that small effective diameter means a low settling velocity, so sedimentation proceeds slowly. Over time, however, these individual particles pack together tightly at the bottom of the container, forming a dense, hard cake that resists redispersion on shaking, which is a known drawback of deflocculated systems in formulation.
Step 4: Final Answer:
A deflocculated suspension is characterized by slow sedimentation.