A ___ is a special mixture that contains large particles, but not large enough to settle to the bottom.
colloid
suspension
solution
colloid
The correct answer is a colloid. A colloid is a special mixture in which particles are dispersed throughout a medium but are not large enough to settle to the bottom. Suspensions, on the other hand, contain larger particles that do settle over time, and solutions do not contain visible particles as they are completely dissolved in the medium.
The correct answer is colloid.
To arrive at this answer, we can start by understanding the definitions of the three options:
1. Colloid: A colloid is a type of mixture where particles of one substance are dispersed evenly throughout another substance, creating a semi-transparent or opaque mixture with particles that are usually larger than those in a solution but smaller than those in a suspension.
2. Suspension: A suspension is a type of mixture where solid particles are dispersed in a liquid or gas, but they are large enough that they eventually settle out if left undisturbed.
3. Solution: A solution is a homogeneous mixture where one substance (the solute) is dissolved in another substance (the solvent) on a molecular level. The solute particles are typically too small to be seen individually.
Given the description provided, we can eliminate solutions because they do not contain large particles but rather tiny particles that are dissolved at a molecular level. On the other hand, suspensions contain large particles that settle to the bottom. Therefore, the correct answer is colloid, as it perfectly fits the description of a special mixture that contains large particles but not large enough to settle to the bottom.