If you've ever been confused by the difference between a solution, suspension or emulsion watch this

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Do you [music] know the difference between a solution, suspension, or emulsion?

[00:00:04]A solution requires a solvent and a solute. The solute is the thing that gets dissolved [music] and the solvent is the thing that dissolves it. The most universal solvent is water. In the case [music] of Kool-Aid, the solute would be the Kool-Aid powder and the solvent would be water.

[00:00:24]>> [music] >> In the case of coffee, the solute would be the coffee beans and the solvent would be water. [music] A suspension has particles that are larger. When you shake [music] it up, they tend to stay suspended for a moment, but then they settle back down to the bottom. A great example is calamine lotion. You know how [music] some things say shake before using? This is why. You can see that the powder has separated from the liquid [music] and it needs to be mixed up before being used.

[00:00:54]Emulsions are made up of two ingredients that shouldn't stay [music] together, but they do because they have a surfactant in them. One end of the surfactant [music] is attracted to water and one end is attracted to oil and [music] that is what binds them together.

[00:01:08]Butter is a water-in-oil emulsion.

[00:01:12]Tiny droplets of water [music] are suspended in butter fat.

[00:01:16]Milk is an oil-in-water emulsion. Tiny drops of butter fat suspended [music] in water.

[00:01:22]Cold cream is an example of water-in-oil emulsion.

[00:01:26]>> [music] >> If you've ever opened a jar of this on a hot summer day and seen little beads of water sitting on the top of this, it's because [music] they've broken free from the emulsion. A lightweight moisturizer on the other hand is an oil-in-water emulsion. That's why it feels light and not greasy on your skin. There's more water and less oil.