Types of colloids:

Colloids are usually classified according to the original states of their constituent parts:

Dispersing medium	Dispersed phase	Name
Solid	Solid	Solid sol
Solid	Liquid	Gel
Solid	Gas	Solid foam
Liquid	Solid	Sol
Liquid	Liquid	Emulsion
Liquid	Gas	Foam
Gas	Solid	Solid aerosol
Gas	Liquid	Aerosol

• Dispersing medium (external phase) - the constituent found in the greater extent in the colloid.
• Dispersed phase (internal phase) - the constituent found in the lesser extent.
• A further classification is as lyophilic (solvent attracting), lyophobic (solvent repelling) or association colloids (a mixture of the two).
• If water is the dispersing medium, it is often known as a hydrosol.