Which term best describes a suspension of oil droplets in a liquid?

• A. Emulsion
• B. Compound
• C. Colloid
• D. Solution

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definitions of each term: A compound is a substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically bonded together. A colloid is a mixture where one substance of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. An emulsion is a type of colloid in which one liquid is dispersed in another liquid.
2. Identify the characteristics of the mixture in question: The problem describes a suspension of oil droplets in a liquid.
3. Recognize that oil droplets suspended in a liquid form a heterogeneous mixture, where the oil droplets are dispersed in another liquid.
4. Recall that an emulsion is specifically a type of colloid where both the dispersed phase and the continuous phase are liquids.
5. Conclude that the term 'emulsion' best describes the suspension of oil droplets in a liquid, as it fits the definition of a liquid-liquid colloid.