This article provides comprehensive Difference between Lyophilic and Lyophobic sols in a concise way. The differences between the two are arranged in order of their importance.
Definition
Lyophilic : Lyophilic colloids are liquid loving colloids (Lyo means solvent and philic means loving).
Lyophobic : Lyophobic colloids are liquid hating colloids (Lyo means solvent and phobic means hating).
Examples
Lyophilic : Sols of organic substances like gelatin, gum, starch and proteins.
Lyophobic : Sols of inorganic substances like Arsenic (As2S3), Iron (Fe(OH)3) and Platinum.
Ease of Preparation
Lyophilic : As these colloids are liquid loving, their sols are easy to prepare and can be prepared directly by mixing colloid with liquid. Additional stabilizers are not required during their preparation.
Lyophobic : As these colloids are water hating, their sols are easy to prepare and cannot be prepared directly by mixing colloid with liquid. Special methods are employed to prepare lyophobic sols and additional stabilizers are required during their preparation.
Stability
Lyophilic : Lyophilic sols are relatively stable as strong forces of interaction exist between colloidal particles and liquid.
Lyophobic : Lyophobic sols are less stable as weak forces of interaction exist between colloidal particles and liquid.
Charge
Lyophilic : The charge on the lyophilic sol depends upon pH of the solution and can be negative, positive or neutral.
Lyophobic : The charge on lyophobic sol can be positive or negative.As2S3 sol is negative in nature while Fe(OH)3 sol is positive in nature.
Viscosity
Lyophilic : The lyophilic colloids are highly viscous in nature and have higher viscosity than that of the medium.
Lyophobic : The Lyophobic colloids have almost same viscosity as that of medium.
Reversibility
Lyophilic : Reversible, because on evaporating the liquid, the residue left will passes into colloidal state on addition of liquid.
Lyophobic : Irreversible, because on evaporating the liquid, the residue left cannot be converted into solution on mere addition of liquid.
Electrophoresis
Lyophilic : Depending on the nature of charge these particles may migrate to cathode or anode or may not move at all.
Lyophobic : Depending on the nature of charge these particles migrate to either cathode or anode.
Surface Tension
Lyophilic : The surface tension of these sols is less than that of dispersion medium.
Lyophobic : The surface tension is nearly same as that of dispersion medium.