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A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture in which small particles of a solid, called the dispersed phase, are suspended in a liquid or gas, called the continuous phase. The particles in a suspension are larger than those in a solution and are typically visible to the naked eye. Over time, these particles will settle to the bottom due to gravity unless they are constantly agitated or mixed.

A colloid is a mixture of two or more substances where one substance, called the dispersed phase, is distributed evenly throughout another substance, called the continuous phase. The particles in a colloid are smaller than those in a suspension, but larger than those in a solution, typically ranging from 1 to 1000 nanometers in size. Due to their small size, these particles do not separate out of the mixture and the mixture appears homogeneous, even though it is not a true solution.

The main differences between a suspension and a colloid are: 1. Particle size: In a suspension, the dispersed particles are larger (usually visible to the naked eye) than those in a colloid. 2. Stability: Suspensions are unstable, and the dispersed particles will eventually settle due to gravity, whereas colloids are stable and the particles do not settle out over time. 3. Appearance: Suspensions are generally cloudy or opaque, while colloids can appear cloudy, translucent or transparent, depending on the size and nature of the dispersed particles. 4. Separation: Suspended particles can be separated from the continuous phase through filtration or sedimentation, while colloidal particles usually cannot be separated easily by these methods. 5. Tyndall effect: When a beam of light is passed through a colloid, the dispersed particles scatter the light, causing the path of the light to be visible (known as the Tyndall effect). In suspensions, the effect is generally less pronounced or not observed. In summary, both suspensions and colloids are mixtures consisting of a dispersed phase distributed in a continuous phase. The key differences between them are particle size, stability, appearance, and how they react to light and separation methods.