Methods Of Formulation Flashcards
What are dispersions?
Unlike solutions, dispersions are a suspension of one type of particle in a continuous phase but they don’t dissolve, they are just suspended there.
E.g. Particles of gas or liquid or air, solid particles or droplets in another component
What are disperse systems made up of? What are they?
Made up of disperse phase - particles or droplets
Which is dispersed in another component known as the continuous phase
Describe the difference between colloidal dispersions and coarse dispersions
Colloidal dispersion particle size 1nm-1um diameter
To be classified as colloid, the particles must NOT settle under gravity
Coarse dispersion particle size >1um
What is a sol? Give an example
A sol is a colloidal dispersion of solid in a liquid
E.g. Jelly
What is an emulsion? Give an example
An emulsion is a mixture of two liquids
E.g. Mayonnaise or milk
What is a foam? Give an example
A foam is when many gas particles are trapped in a liquid or a solid
Gas in liquid - e.g. Frothy coffee
Gas in solid - e.g. Meringues
What is an aerosol?
An aerosol contains small particles of liquid or solid dispersed in a gas
How to know the difference between a solution and a sol?
If it dissolves, it is a solution.
If it does not, it is a sol.
What do lyophobic and lyophilic mean?
Lyophilic - solvent-loving
Lyophobic - solvent-hating
Lyo- = solvent
The terms hydrophilic and hydrophobic are used when water is the solvent
Describe some features of lyophilic sols
Lyophilic sols…
- exhibit high visocity
- contain asymmetrical particles
- are stable in the presence of electrolytes
Name types of molecules whereby lyophilic sols are formed
Lyophilic sols are formed by:
- surfactant molecules forming micelles in water
- proteins and gums in suspension, e.g. Acacia and methylcellulose
Describe features of lyophobic sols
Lyophobic sols:
- exhibit low viscosity
- contain symmetrical particles
- are very sensitive to the addition of electrolytes , which causes irreversible aggregation
How are lyophobic sols formed? Give an example
Lyophobic sols are formed by dispersions of oil and water
E.g. Milk, mayonnaise
How would you make a lyophilic colloid?
The affinity of lyophilic colloids for their dispersion medium leads to spontaneous formation of colloidal dispersion
I.e.
Just mix them!
How would you make a lyophobic colloid? Name the two main ways
Lyophobic colloid systems are prepared by dispersion or condensation
What does dispersion of material to form a colloid involve?
Dispersion involves breakdown of coarse material by colloid mills or ultrasonic treatment
What does condensation of a material to form a colloid involve?
Condensation involves the rapid production of a supersaturated solution of the colloidal material under conditions that cause formation of colloidal particles and not a precipitate.
Give an example of how condensation can form colloids
What else can form colloidal sol particles?
Silver iodide + potassium iodide–> colloidal silver iodide
a change in solvent can induce formation of colloidal sol particles
E.g.
When a saturated solution of sulphur in acetone is poured slowly into hot water, the acetone vaporises and leaves a colloidal dispersion of sulphur
Name 3 ways of purifying colloidal systems
Dialysis
Ultrafiltration
Electrodialysis
What does normal dialysis of particles involve?
Purifies colloidal systems
Colloidal particles are too large to diffuse through man-made membranes such as cellophane or collodion or man-made cassettes
Particles are separated and purified by dialysis against a large volume of liquid using these man-made membranes
What does ultrafiltration of particles involve?
Method for purifying colloidal sol particles
By applying pressure (or suction), solvent molecules and impurities can be forced across a membrane
But colloidal particles are retained
This method is faster than dialysis
What is the size range of colloidal particles like? How is it quantified?
The size range is often very wide, so the size/molecular weight is given as an average value
Shape of colloidal particles
Normally spherical but also:
- oblate ellipsoids (discus-shaped)
- prolate ellipsoids (rugby ball-shaped)
What kind of movement do colloidal particles undergo?
Colloidal particles are subject to brownian motion - random collisions leading to a zig-zag motion - with molecules of the dispersion medium
As a result of this motion, colloidal particles are able to spontaneously diffuse from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration
At what size will the colloidal particles sediment under gravity? What is another way of sedimenting them if they are not this size?
Particles will sediment under gravity at a size of 0.5um or greater
Below this, particles will have to be sedimented by centrifugation (manually)
What does electrodialysis/electrodecantation of particles involve?
An electrical potential can be applied to increase the rate of movement of ionic impurities across a dialysis membrane, speeding up purification.
This process is called electrodecantation
What is aggregation of particles? When does it occur?
Permanent contact between particles
Caused by frequent collisions
As large aggregates form, they sediment out of solution
What is coagulation?
Coagulation describes particles that are closely aggregated and difficult to disperse
What is flocculation?
Flocculation describes aggregates with an open structure
Describe the 3 main groups of forces between particles in colloidal systems that cause flocculation, aggregation, coagulation etc
-electrical forces of repulsion due to the charge on each particle - stay in stable form/system
- forces of attraction (van der Waals forces of attraction)
- forces arising from solvation (flocculation and coagulation)
How can we use the aggregation of colloidal sol particles to our own advantage?
In the formation of gels
The majority of gels are formed by aggregation of colloidal sol particles
By weight gels are mostly liquid, but they behave like solids. Why is this?
This is due to a 3-dimensional cross-linked network within the liquid
The solid or semi-solid form is composed of inter-linked particles
The particle network imparts rigidity to the structure
A gel rich is liquid is called…
A jelly
A gel that contains no liquid is called a…
Give exmaples
Xerogel
E.g. Sheet gelatin, tragacanth flakes
Name some gels from lyophobic sols and describe their composition
Clays e.g: Bentonite Aluminium magnesium silicate Kaolin Are composed of charged particles and form gels by flocculation, but in a different way
Describe the structure of lyophobic sols
The face of the particle has a negative charge and the edge of the particle has a positive charge
Due to the electrostatic interactions between the faces and edges of different particles, a gel structure builds up in a ‘card house’ floc
Describe the forces in a card house floc
The forces holding the particles together are relatively weak, allowing gels to exhibit thixotropy - a non-chemical, isothermal [doesn’t need heat] gel to sol to gel transformation
Describe how gels from lyophobic sols exhibit thixotropy
Simple shaking breaks these bonds and the gel turns into a sol
Upon standing the particles collide, flocculate and the gel is reformed
This phenomenon is observed in calamine lotion
How are gels from lyophilic sols divided?
Type I and Type II gels