A unique solution we have not discussed as a class:
- Scenario: A solution of gold nanoparticles in water
- Solute: Gold nanoparticles
- Solvent: Water
Gold nanoparticles are incredibly small particles of gold, typically ranging in size from 1 to 100 nanometers. They are often suspended in water, where they form a stable solution. The gold nanoparticles are the solute, while the water is the solvent.
This solution is unique because it is a colloid, which is a mixture in which particles of one substance (the dispersed phase) are dispersed throughout another substance (the continuous phase). Colloids are stable because the particles are prevented from settling out by electrostatic repulsion or steric stabilization. In the case of gold nanoparticles in water, the particles are stabilized by electrostatic repulsion, as they are surrounded by a layer of charged molecules.
This solution has a number of interesting properties that make it useful for a variety of applications. For example, gold nanoparticles can be used to deliver drugs to specific cells, to create biosensors, and to develop new materials with enhanced optical properties.