The key difference between a suspension and a solution lies in the nature of the mixture and the size and behavior of the particles involved:

Suspension

• A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture where solid particles are dispersed in a liquid or another medium but do not dissolve

• The particles in a suspension are relatively large, generally larger than 500 nanometers and often visible to the naked eye or under a microscope

• These particles do not dissolve and will eventually settle out or separate from the liquid over time due to gravity, making the mixture unstable

• Suspensions can be separated by filtration, sedimentation, or centrifugation

• Examples include sand in water, muddy water, and certain paints

Solution

• A solution is a homogeneous mixture where the solute is completely dissolved in the solvent, resulting in a uniform composition throughout

• The particles (solute) in a solution are at the molecular or ionic level, typically very small (0.1 to 2 nanometers), and are not visible to the naked eye

• The solute does not settle out over time; solutions are stable and the components cannot be separated by simple filtration

• Examples include salt dissolved in water, sugar dissolved in water, and air (a gaseous solution of oxygen and nitrogen)

Feature| Suspension| Solution
---|---|---
Mixture type| Heterogeneous| Homogeneous
Particle size| Large particles (>500 nm)| Very small particles (0.1–2 nm)
Visibility| Particles visible or can be seen under microscope| Particles not visible
Stability| Unstable; particles settle over time| Stable; particles do not settle
Separation methods| Filtration, sedimentation, centrifugation| Evaporation, distillation
Examples| Sand in water, muddy water, paint| Salt water, sugar water, air

In summary, a suspension contains larger, undissolved particles that eventually settle out, making it a heterogeneous mixture, while a solution is a uniform, stable mixture with dissolved particles at the molecular or ionic level