How are sol, solution and suspension different from each other?

The size and behavior of particles play a crucial role in distinguishing between sol, solution, and suspension. A sol is made up of solid particles, ranging from 1 to 1000 nanometers, suspended in a liquid. It maintains its dispersion through Brownian motion, creating a stable colloidal system commonly seen in products such as ink or paint. Solutions, on the other hand, consist of molecular or ionic-sized particles that are evenly dispersed at a molecular level, with a size smaller than 1 nanometer. These mixtures are uniform and do not exhibit settling, as in the case of salt dissolved in water. Suspensions, in contrast, have larger particles measuring over 1000 nanometers and are heterogeneous in nature. The force of gravity causes these particles to settle, making them separable through filtration. This can be observed in examples like muddy water or sand particles in water. These distinct features, determined by particle size and behavior, define the unique characteristics of sol, solution, and suspension.