Suspension vs. Solution — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 30, 2024
Suspension involves particles that are not dissolved and settle over time, while a solution consists of dissolved particles that remain uniformly distributed.
Difference Between Suspension and Solution
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Suspension contains particles that are larger and do not dissolve in the liquid, meaning they will eventually settle if left undisturbed. Whereas in a solution, the solute particles are completely dissolved, resulting in a uniform composition that doesn’t change over time.
In a suspension, light passing through it may be scattered by the suspended particles, making it appear cloudy or opaque. On the other hand, solutions are generally clear and transparent because the dissolved particles are too small to scatter light significantly.
The particles in a suspension can often be separated by simple filtration due to their size, while the dissolved substances in a solution cannot be removed by filtration but may require more complex separation techniques such as distillation or evaporation.
Suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures, where the different components can be visually distinguished after settling. Solutions, however, are homogeneous mixtures with a uniform appearance throughout, as the solute and solvent form a single phase.
The behavior and stability of suspensions are influenced by factors such as particle size and the presence of agitating forces. Solutions, in contrast, are stable mixtures where the solute remains dissolved under constant conditions and doesn’t settle out or separate.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Heterogeneous mixture
Homogeneous mixture
Particle Size
Larger, visible particles
Molecular or ionic size, not visible
Transparency
Opaque or cloudy
Transparent
Separation Method
Filtration, settling
Evaporation, distillation
Stability
Particles settle over time
Stable, particles do not settle
Compare with Definitions
Suspension
A mixture in which particles are dispersed throughout the bulk of a fluid.
Sand in water is a classic example of a suspension.
Solution
Does not scatter light significantly.
A solution of vinegar and water is clear and transparent.
Suspension
Appears cloudy or opaque.
Orange juice with pulp is an example of a suspension that appears cloudy.
Solution
Particles are at the molecular or ionic level.
Sugar dissolved in water forms a solution where sugar molecules are evenly distributed.
Suspension
Not a uniform mixture.
Muddy water is a suspension where mud particles are unevenly distributed throughout the water.
Solution
Cannot be separated by filtration.
You cannot separate sugar from water using a filter.
Suspension
Can be separated by physical means like filtration.
A sand and water mixture can be separated using a simple filter.
Solution
Stable and does not separate over time.
Alcohol mixed with water forms a solution that remains mixed without separating.
Suspension
Particles eventually settle over time.
If you leave a bottle of Italian dressing undisturbed, the spices will settle at the bottom.
Solution
A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
Saltwater is a solution where salt is completely dissolved in water.
Suspension
An interruption or temporary cessation, as of an activity or of the application of a rule or law.
Solution
A method or process of dealing with a problem
Sought a solution to falling enrollments.
Suspension
A temporary prohibition or exclusion, as from attending school or enjoying a privilege, especially as a punishment.
Solution
The answer to a problem or the explanation for something
The solution to the mystery.
Suspension
A postponement, as of a judgment, opinion, or decision.
Solution
A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, which may be solids, liquids, gases, or a combination of these.
Suspension
The prolongation of one or more tones of a chord into a following chord to create a temporary dissonance.
Solution
The process of forming such a mixture.
Suspension
The tone or tones so prolonged.
Solution
The state of being dissolved
Nitrogen that is in solution in the ocean.
Suspension
A device from which a mechanical part is suspended.
Solution
(Archaic) The act of separating or breaking up; dissolution.
Suspension
The system of springs and other devices that insulates the chassis of a vehicle from shocks transmitted through the wheels.
Solution
A homogeneous mixture, which may be liquid, gas or solid, formed by dissolving one or more substances.
Suspension
(Chemistry) A system in which minute particles are dispersed throughout a fluid from which they are easily filtered but not easily settled because of system viscosity or molecular interactions.
Solution
An act, plan or other means, used or proposed, to solve a problem.
Suspension
The act of suspending, or the state of being suspended.
Suspension from a hook
Solution
An answer to a problem.
Suspension
A temporary or conditional delay, interruption or discontinuation.
Solution
(marketing) A product, service or suite thereof, especially software.
Suspension
The state of a solid or substance produced when its particles are mixed with, but not dissolved in, a fluid, and are capable of separation by straining.
Solution
Satisfaction of a claim or debt.
Suspension
Thus a kind of silt or sludge.
Solution
The act of dissolving, especially of a solid by a fluid; dissolution.
Suspension
The act of keeping a person who is listening in doubt and expectation of what is to follow.
Solution
The crisis of a disease.
Suspension
The temporary barring of a person from a workplace, society, etc. pending investigation into alleged misconduct.
Solution
To treat with a solution.
Suspension
(education) The process of barring a student from school grounds as a form of punishment (particularly out-of-school suspension).
Suspension from school as a disciplinary measure
Solution
The act of separating the parts of any body, or the condition of undergoing a separation of parts; disruption; breach.
In all bodies there is an appetite of union and evitation of solution of continuity.
Suspension
(music) The act of or discord produced by prolonging one or more tones of a chord into the chord which follows, thus producing a momentary discord, suspending the concord which the ear expects.
Solution
The act of solving, or the state of being solved; the disentanglement of any intricate problem or difficult question; explanation; clearing up; - used especially in mathematics, either of the process of solving an equation or problem, or the result of the process.
Suspension
A stay or postponement of the execution of a sentence, usually by letters of suspension granted on application to the Lord Ordinary.
Solution
The state of being dissolved or disintegrated; resolution; disintegration.
It is unquestionably an enterprise of more promise to assail the nations in their hour of faintness and solution, than at a time when magnificent and seductive systems of worship were at their height of energy and splendor.
Suspension
(topology) A topological space derived from another by taking the product of the original space with an interval and collapsing each end of the product to a point.
Solution
The act or process by which a body (whether solid, liquid, or gaseous) is absorbed into a liquid, and, remaining or becoming fluid, is diffused throughout the solvent; also, the product resulting from such absorption.
Suspension
(topology) A function derived, in a standard way, from another, such that the instant function’s domain and codomain are suspensions of the original function’s.
Solution
Release; deliverance; discharge.
Suspension
(vehicle) The system of springs and shock absorbers connected to the wheels in an automobile, which allows the vehicle to move smoothly with reduced shock to its occupants.
Solution
The termination of a disease; resolution.
Suspension
The act of suspending, or the state of being suspended; pendency; as, suspension from a hook.
Solution
A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution;
He used a solution of peroxide and water
Suspension
Especially, temporary delay, interruption, or cessation
Solution
A statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem;
They were trying to find a peaceful solution
The answers were in the back of the book
He computed the result to four decimal places
Suspension
A conditional withholding, interruption, or delay; as, the suspension of a payment on the performance of a condition.
Solution
A method for solving a problem;
The easy solution is to look it up in the handbook
Suspension
The state of a solid when its particles are mixed with, but undissolved in, a fluid, and are capable of separation by straining; also, any substance in this state.
Solution
The set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation
Suspension
A keeping of the hearer in doubt and in attentive expectation of what is to follow, or of what is to be the inference or conclusion from the arguments or observations employed.
Solution
The successful action of solving a problem;
The solution took three hours
Suspension
A stay or postponement of execution of a sentence condemnatory by means of letters of suspension granted on application to the lord ordinary.
Suspension
The prolongation of one or more tones of a chord into the chord which follows, thus producing a momentary discord, suspending the concord which the ear expects. Cf. Retardation.
Suspension
A mixture in which fine particles are suspended in a fluid where they are supported by buoyancy
Suspension
A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
Suspension
Temporary cessation or suspension
Suspension
An interruption in the intensity or amount of something
Suspension
A mechanical system of springs or shock absorbers connecting the wheels and axles to the chassis of a wheeled vehicle
Suspension
The act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely);
There was a small ceremony for the hanging of the portrait
Suspension
A temporary debarment (from a privilege or position etc)
Common Curiosities
What is a solution?
A solution is a homogeneous mixture where one substance (solute) is completely dissolved in another (solvent), resulting in a clear and uniform mixture.
How can you tell a suspension from a solution?
Suspensions are cloudy and allow particles to settle over time, whereas solutions are clear and particles do not settle.
Can the components of a suspension be separated easily?
Yes, the components of a suspension can often be separated by simple filtration or settling.
Why can't a solution be separated by filtration?
In a solution, the particles are too small and are dissolved at the molecular or ionic level, making them impossible to filter out.
What is the particle size in a suspension compared to a solution?
Suspensions contain larger, visible particles, while solutions have particles at the molecular or ionic level, invisible to the naked eye.
How does light interaction differ between suspensions and solutions?
Suspensions scatter light due to their larger particles, making them appear cloudy, while solutions do not scatter light significantly, appearing clear.
Can suspensions and solutions conduct electricity?
Solutions can conduct electricity if they contain ions, while suspensions generally do not because their particles are not ionized.
What is a suspension?
A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture in which particles are dispersed throughout a liquid or gas but are not dissolved and will settle over time.
Are suspensions stable mixtures?
No, suspensions are not stable; their particles will eventually settle over time.
Are solutions considered stable mixtures?
Yes, solutions are stable as the dissolved particles do not settle or separate over time.
Is muddy water a suspension or a solution?
Muddy water is a suspension because the mud particles are not dissolved and can settle over time.
What makes a solution transparent?
The dissolved particles in a solution are too small to scatter light, making it transparent.
Is saltwater a suspension or a solution?
Saltwater is a solution because the salt is completely dissolved, and the mixture remains uniform.
What are examples of suspensions and solutions in everyday life?
Everyday suspensions include orange juice with pulp and muddy water, while common solutions include saltwater and vinegar in water.
Can evaporation separate a solution?
Yes, evaporation can remove the solvent, leaving the solute behind, effectively separating a solution.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
